As anticipation starts to build for the London Olympics, the world’s greatest showcase of track and field athletics, now seems a good time to review the state of health of UK Jewish athletics.

Last month’s Maccabiah Games provided a telling indicator. It showcased the talents of two bright prospects — Richard Goodman, 16, of Stanmore, who won two golds and a bronze in the junior middle-distance events, and Jennifer Simmons, 18, of Manchester, who won gold in the senior 400m hurdles and bronze in the 400m flat.

Deena Kastor, 36, (left) was third lady in the 98th annual Bay to Breakers 12K race in San Francisco, beaten by two Kenyan athletes.

Despite ongoing GCSE exams, Richard Goodman equalled his personal best of 1:59.6 in winning a closely fought 800 metres race in the Southern Young Athletes League at Enfield.

Manchester’s Ellie Edwards, 12, recorded 10.5 for 75 m in the Northern Young Athletes League, placing her in the top 20 in the UK under-13 rankings.

Amanda, Ashleigh and Katie Tropp have expanded the family trophy cabinet after recording success in the London Gymnastics Federation Acrobatics Regional Championships.

Representing Harefield Gymnastic Academy, the sisters, pupils at Moriah Jewish Day School, turned heads at East London Gym. Amanda, together with Jessica Gordon-Brown, won gold in Grade One after receiving a competition high score of 26.80. Their finish sees them qualify to represent London in the national finals in May.

Cross country

Richard Goodman won the Intermediate Boys race representing Middlesex Schools at the English School’s Cross Country Championships at Stamford Hall near Loughborough.

He finished the 5.4 kilometre course in 17:29 and joins a prestigious list of winners including Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram.

As a top eight finisher, Goodman has been selected to represent England in the SIAB Home Countries International Schools Cross Country in Bangor.

Roger Bruck took silver in the pentathlon at the National Indoor Championships.

He took the lead after the hurdles, putting down his improvement to specialist coaching received from John Barnett. Bruck retained his advantage after the high jump, long jump and shot put, but coming into the final event, the 1000 metres, the former European Maccabi 100 metre champion found the event approximately 900 metres too far. He was well beaten in this discipline and had to settle for overall second place in the five disciplines contest.