Elena Dolinin sets new Israeli marathon record at first attempt

In her first ever attempt over the distance, Elena Dolinin set a new Israeli record of 2:35:59 to place seventh in Sunday's Berlin Marathon. Her performance was a 37 second improvement on the previous record, set by Nili Abramski in 2004. She ran the second half more than a minute faster than the first half.

Dolinin, 38, had been a middle-distance runner in her youth in Russia, and emigrated to Israel in 1999. However, she had not run for 20 years before taking up the sport again two years ago.

“I increased my speed throughout,” she said, “but I held back a bit because I was scared I would hit the wall. I never thought I would run that fast.”

Extraordinary high jumping by Roger Bruck

(For publication on September 23: Posted to blog late due to poor internet facilities while abroad) 

Roger Bruck, 77, took M75 high jump gold in extraordinary style at the British Masters Championships at Birmingham. His clearance of 1.27m placed him top of the national age-group rankings, added 4 cm to his own M75 Southern Counties record and was 2cm higher than his own M70 record. "I was absolutely elated," Bruck commented, "and heartened by the appreciation shown by everyone present in the high jump area." Bruck added to his medal tally with bronzes in the 200m (a season’s best of 34.64) and long jump (3.14m). He also placed fourth in the 100m in 17.23.

In running the fastest stage time at the Middlesex U13 Young Athletes Road Relays, Gilad Nachshen, 12, helped Shaftesbury Barnet to take the team gold medal. He recorded 10:54 for the 3 km lap. "I was running the second stage and set off rather fast as I had a 47s gap to close,” Nachshen said. “I paid for this on my second lap, but I was helped by the stamina I have gained through the club’s endurance training."

Fine 3000m performances by young athletes!

Lia Radus, 14, maintained her impressive form with three further successes. The Blackheath & Bromley athlete took 1500m victory at the UK Youth Development League National Final in Bedford in 4:45.07. Next she improved her 3000m best to 10:03.68 at the Watford Open Graded Meeting, placing her second in the UK U15 rankings. She then produced the fastest girls’ stage time in the 3x3000m Will Bolton Relays, an inter-club competition organised by Blackheath & Bromley. Running the same stage and following close behind was Radus’ sister Maayan, 12, now returning to her best form.

Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier Bini Bloom, 13, made an impressive 3000m debut, recording 10:15.41 at the Watford Open Graded Meeting.

Gilad Nachshen, 12, provided excellent service to Shaftesbury Barnet at the Eastern Young Athletes League Final in Stevenage, winning the 800m in 2:19.77 and the B event 200m in 27.51.

David Stone, 14, ran the second fastest stage time in the U15 Middlesex & Hertfordshire Young Athletes Road Relays, recording 9:40 for the 3000m leg.

England Athletics U15 Championship success for Lia Radus and Lucie Wolfenden

Lia Radus achieved an impressive fourth place in the England Athletics U15 1500m Championship in Bedford. City of London Girls’ pupil Radus recorded 4:43.56, having set a PB of 4:42.18 the previous day in the heats.

Radus reported, "The preliminary race was comfortable and I spent most of it in a good position just behind the leaders. I was surprised and happy to set a personal best. But in the final I spent most of the race forced out into the second and third lanes. Then I was shoved as I started to make a move to sprint. I am a bit disappointed because I feel that I was in medal contention up to that point. But overall I am pleased with coming away with a PB and a lot of experience gained from both races."

In the same Championships, Sale Harrier Lucie Wolfenden placed 8th in the pole vault with a clearance of 2.71m.

For the second successive week, Maayan Radus, 12, improved her parkrun personal best, recording 20:14 at Bushey Park.

Roger Bruck, 77, took four age group titles in the Southern Counties and Veterans AC Championships at Kingston. His gold medal performances were 17.57 for 100m, 37.09 for 200m, 1.15m in the high jump and 3.06m for the long jump.

“I had hoped for better performances,” Bruck commented, “but both jumping events were interrupted by wind and rain and the sprints were run into the wind”.

Rosalind Zeffert moved into the V50 national shot put rankings with a throw of 6.37m, competing for Shaftesbury Barnet in the London Inter-Club Challenge at Hendon.

Radus sisters in impressive form

Lia Radus, 14, reinforced her status as one of the country’s brightest young middle-distance stars with two impressive victories in the space of four days. Blackheath & Bromley athlete Radus first won the British Milers Club women's 800m event in Eltham in a new PB of 2:18.96. She followed this up by winning the South of England U15 Championship, recording 4:47.40 for a 3s winning margin. Meanwhile her younger sister Maayan, 12, returned to competition at the Bushey Park parkrun, clocking  20:27 for a 33s improvement on her previous best.

 “I am very happy with my 800m PB as I had been trying to break 2:20 for some time,” Radus commented. “The South of England 1500m was a very tactical race, run in windy conditions. It was obvious from early on that there was no chance of a PB so I concentrated on the tactical aspect and winning the race”.

 Eden Davis, 17, gained victories in the 100m and 200m and third place in the 400m in the Southern Athletics League at Bromley. His times in windy conditions were 11.33, 22.22 and 52.94.

Nachshen, Wolfenden and Bongart edging higher on the national lists

Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier Gilad Nachshen, 12, rose to third in the UK U13 800m rankings with a 2:14.0 victory in the Eastern Young Athletes League at Hendon. He also won the 200m event in 27.9 at the same meeting. Nachshen returned to 800m racing three days later in the Watford Open Graded Meeting, again improving his time to 2:13.69. Now further inspired by the Olympic victory of his hero David Rudisha, Nachshen is continuing his training on holiday with dawn runs on Netanya beach.

Shaftesbury Barnet teammate Matti Harris, 13, cut his best to 2:20.05 at the same Watford Open Graded Meeting.

2013 Maccabia silver medallist James Bongart, 20, improved his javelin PB to 58.34m in the British Athletics League Premiership at Hendon, moving to fourth on the UK U23 list.

Sale Harrier Lucy Wolfenden, 14, edged her pole vault best up to 2.80m when placing fourth in the U15 Northern Athletics Championships at Middlesbrough.

Radus, Bloom, Davis and Nachshen all shine

Contesting her first ever 3000m race, Lia Radus, 14, jumped straight to second in the UK U15 rankings. Radus recorded 10:07.32 in the Watford Open Graded Meeting, in probably her most impressive result to date. At the same meeting, Biny Bloom, 13, improved his 1500m time by eight seconds to 4:43.20.

Eden Davis, 17, reduced his 100m PB to 10.74 in the English Senior Championships at Bedford. Herts Phoenix athlete Davis did not progress to the final, in which Olympic bobsledder Joel Fearon became the third fastest ever GB sprinter in 9.96.

Gilad Nachshen lined up against several of the country's fastest U13 800m runners in the Derek Crookes Southern Inter County Match at Kingston. Nachshen, 12, finished fourth in 2:15.85, as Jaden Kennedy increased his lead at the top of the UK standings with 2:09.00.