Nachshen closing in on the two minute barrier

Gilad Nachshen, 13, set a new 800m best of 2:04.44 at the Watford Open Graded Meeting, to reaffirm his standing as the second fastest runner of his age in the country. His performance came three days after chasing home Jamie Rashbrook, one of the fastest 14-year-olds in the country, in a close race at the Eastern Young Athletes League Final at Bedford. Nachshen commented, "I surprised myself in both races, in that I had only done one training session in the previous fortnight. In the EYAL race, Jamie and I broke away from the field early on and ran virtually together. I pulled ahead with 150m remaining, but perhaps I surged too soon because he took me back in the final few metres. At Watford I ran at my usual tempo to pass 400m in 62 seconds, and was pleased to maintain that speed to the end.
The season has gone really well for me in terms of improving both my speed and my technique. In particular, running 1500m events has taught me to conserve my energy up to the end of the race!"

Contesting the high jump in his first competition of the year at the same Watford Open Meeting, William Levy, 17, cleared the bar at 1.60m.

Adam Firsht, 14, placed fifth in the Southern Counties U15 800m Championships in Oxford. He recorded 2:09.45, having run slightly faster in the heats earlier in the afternoon.

Sisters Jessica and Rebecca Hurley joined forces to form the Shaftesbury Barnet team for the U20 1500m steeplechase at the Youth Development League National Final in Birmingham. Jessica, 17 at the time, placed fifth in 5:51.72, less than a second outside her personal best. Rebecca, 19, recorded 6:35.70 in what was her first Shaftesbury race of the season and first steeplechase ever.

Rachel Ayrton, 18, improved her 400m PB to 65.64 at Watford.