SOUTHALL shot putter Kai Jones finished his season on a high by making the McCain Jumps & Throws Fest podium in the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, on Saturday.

Jones, 15, finished third with a best effort of 17.62m.

This is a marked improvement from May’s School Games, where the Ealing, Southall and Middlesex AC starlet failed to record a throw.

He believes the lessons learnt from that nightmare will stand him in good stead next season.

“The McCain Jumps & Throws Fest was good, but I could have performed much better,” he said. “In training, I have been throwing 18m and hoping to do it here but it didn’t work out.

“My season has been full of ups and downs. It started well, but at the School Games nerves got the better of me and I had six no throws.

“But I have learnt to stay focused and not to worry about it. Hopefully, I can move on now and make it to the world youths next season.”

The McCain Challenge Competition - which covers indoor, outdoor track and field and cross-country - is our premier domestic athletics series. Supported generously by UKA's Principal Partner, McCain, the series provides top-quality competition opportunities.