Eden Davis, 15, has achieved the remarkable feat of qualifying for the England Schools Athletics Championships in his first year of serious competition.
Up until three months ago, Yavneh College student had only ever raced in school sports days.
Competing in the Intermediate (under-17) age group at the Hertfordshire Schools Championships, Herts Phoenix athlete Davis placed second in both the 100m (10.9) and 200m (22.6). Although both performances qualify for entry to the English Schools Championships taking place in Birmingham next month, Hertfordshire are likely to select Davis to contest the shorter event.
Davis said: "I was delighted with my 100m performance and amazed at the time. I actually suffered a hamstring pull 70m into the race, which probably cost me a tenth of a second.
"Luckily the injury is healing well. I really enjoy my athletics, and I have my PE teacher, Mr McLaughlin, and my trainer, Catherine Walker, to thank for helping me to reach this level."
James Bongart maintained his excellent run of form with silver at the South of England championships. The javelin star threw a new personal best of 56.00m – an achievement that lifts him to ninth in the national rankings and 11th in the UK.
Jessica Hurley and Maayan Radus set personal bests, and Daniel Gubbay a season's best, in the London Inter Club Challenge event in Hendon. Hurley, 14, recorded 26.87 for 200m while her Shaftesbury Barnet team-mate Radus ran the mile in 6:08.45, just a day after her tenth birthday. Gubbay, competing as Barnet AC's first string athlete, ran 400m in 54.78, his fastest time outside of last year's Maccabiah.
Dan Levine, aged nine, won the 8-10-year age group at the Hever Castle Triathlon.