Discus thrower Claire Smithson has cracked the 50m barrier for the first time.

The 17-year-old made the breakthrough at the Brighton and Hove Open Evening meeting at Withdean. She did it with her third effort that flew out to 51.38m to clinch the title. It was more than one metre further than her own Sussex record and the seventh best by a Briton this season.

Claire followed with 49.49m, 46.74m and 50.03m to complete the finest series of her career. She said: "I have been trying so hard in recent weeks to get over 50m, maybe too hard .

"But I felt a little more relaxed and I knew my third throw was past the 50m mark. I could have burst with pleasure."

Sam Redd was third in the invitation javelin, despite an impending foot operation. The Brighton and Hove youngster threw 40.38m behind Melanie Burrows (Ashford) and Sutton's Georgina Hodgson.

Sussex failed to get a medal in the South of England 3,000m Championships for the first time in four years Arena 80's Lynn Williams was fourth behind winner Louise Damen, the All England Schools champion.

Patrick Davoren swept to a impressive victory in a nippy 1min.51.1sec over 800m. Caroline Garrett (Worthing) and Chris Arnold (Brighton and Hove) were victorious in the javelin at the British Veterans Championships at Bedford.