On Saturday 20th April, Welsh Athletics and Cardiff AAC held its first open meeting of the season at Cardiff International Sports Stadium.

This meeting also incorporated the first Welsh Senior league meeting of the season.

After Ryan's brilliant personal best last week at Yate in the 400 metres, Ryan was really looking forward to trying the 300-metre sprint.

There was a full line up of athletes and Ryan had lane eight, giving him the outside lane.

This put the pressure on Ryan as he has no idea where anyone was in comparison to him until the home straight.

After the first 100 metres, Ryan was still in the lead then he kicked hard around the bend.

Just off the bend Ryan was overtaken by Jonathan Hornblower, one of the senior athletes, aged 26, from Derby ACC.

It was a truly inspirational last 100 metres as at 50 metres from the line, the Derby athlete was at least five metres up on Ryan and the third-placed athlete seemed to be closing on him as well.

With 20 metres to go, Ryan had an enormous surge of speed and crossed the line in first place about one metre ahead of the Derby sprinter.

Ryan recalls this as his 'best performance to date' and when his time of 34.15 seconds came up on the clock, he knew the achievement he had accomplished.

The time gave Ryan a new league record at Cardiff and is the quickest time in the UK to date for the Under 20 age group and below.

We all know that the 300 metres is not that well recognised as an event, but Ryan beat a very impressive field of athletes, some of whom have represented GB at sprints and hurdles across Europe.

Ryan travelled to Loughborough on Saturday where he took part in another open meeting.

The entry standard for this meeting was very high so some of the top sprinters from all over the UK and some top universities were taking part.

This competition also includes the world trials for junior athletes, where Ryan looked to run fast enough to qualify him for World Juniors.

He still has three years to achieve this qualification time in the 400 metre so this years competition will be more of an experience and another learning curve than anything else.

Ryan lined up in the 400m with five athletes from Loughborough university and two other university athletes.

Ryan had lane eight so had no one to focus on. After one false start they were off and Ryan just ran his own race,he kicked hard but could not catch the first place runner but did finish in a very good second place with yet another personal best.

Ryan's quickest time for the 400m is now 49.16 seconds. Considering the very windy conditions and the fact the the race winner is in the top of the U23 age group and a very accomplished Loughborough university athlete, Ryan should be very pleased with his performance.

Ryan's aim by the end of the season is to hit around 48.50 seconds for the 400 metres.

He also ran in the 200 metres and finished in fourth place in another quick time of 22.50, his second quickest of the season so far.

As Ryan's career develops he will be looking for a local business or individual to offer sponsorship with regards to his training and travel throughout the UK, anyone who may be interested should email [email protected]">[email protected] in the first instance.

Follow Ryan on Twitter @Ryan_Lee01.