Good pickings at the Middlesex indoor championships

Southbank International School student Idan Gal-Shohet took U20‎ long jump gold in the Middlesex indoor championships at Lee Valley, achieving a jump of 6.49m. Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier Gilad Nachshen likewise secured U15 300m gold in 39.72. Also competing for Shaftesbury Barnet in the senior division, Rosalind Zeffert took long jump gold, 200m silver and placed fourth in the 60m.

10K PB for Hannah Viner in Spain

Hannah Viner moved to third in the British Under-23 10K rankings when finishing third in the International Villa de Laredo race in Spain. Viner's time of 34:15 cut 35 seconds from her previous best for the distance, set in the same race last year.

"I wasn't expecting a PB after my long and tiring cross country season", commented Highgate Harrier Viner. "But it was a fast course, two laps consisting of straight flat roads and sharp turns. The conditions were far from perfect, with blustery winds and heavy rain, but it was certainly warmer than England!

“I ran without a watch and was surprised to pass halfway in 16:44, just 7 seconds shy of my 5000m PB. I knew I would slow a bit in the second half so I tried to stay concentrated one kilometre at a time. Luckily the wind was in our favour for the last two kilometres though we did face a gale in the final straight. Standing on the rostrum with some really classy runners and receiving a massive trophy really topped off the evening!"

Battling weather conditions more normally associated with a climb of Mount Everest, Lia Radus contributed to Team London's overall win in the England Schools Cross Country Championships. Radus placed 46th out of 339 finishers in the Intermediate Girls' race at Temple Newsam Park, Leeds.

Radus reported “The start was tricky as I was in the fourth row in the pen. But I managed to regain the lost distance quite quickly and move into the top 20. For most of the race I was well positioned and protected from the snow and gales by other runners in front and behind. However the strong winds did affect my breathing. I lost several places on the downhill to the finish as I could not catch my breath. Although I am slightly disappointed with my finishing position, I feel proud to have contributed to London placing second in this race and winning the overall championship”.

England Schools' call-up for David Stone, and fine high jump victory for Roger Bruck

JFS pupil David Stone, 16, has been selected to represent England in the ISF World Schools' Cross Country Championship in Paris next month. Stone earned his place following his victory in a close and dramatic race at last month’s Under 17 National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill. He took home from that race a trophy won eight years ago by former JFS pupil Richard Goodman, and in the more distant past by athletes such as Mo Farah and David Bedford. Shaftesbury Barnet athlete Stone also won junior 3000m gold in last year's Maccabiah.

Roger Bruck, 78, achieved his highest jump since 2016 in taking V75 gold at the British Masters Championships at Lee Valley. His clearance of 1.24m took the Barnet & District athlete to the top of the National age group rankings. Bruck commented, "I think my improvement was due to a longer and faster run up, and also helped by my giving the 60m event the miss". Bruck also secured 200m silver and long jump bronze.

Shaftesbury Barnet multi-eventer Rosalind Zeffertt gained two bronzes in the V55 age group, recording 9.76 in the 60m and a distance of 3.52m in the long jump. "I am working towards running the 60m in less time than it takes Bolt to run 100m," Zeffertt mused.

Hannah Viner was first lady and second overall in the Hampstead Heath parkrun, recording 17:46.