ByBrian Sacks, Brian Sacks
Richard Goodman narrowly missed repeating his greatest victory of last year, as he finished third at the Under 20 3,000m at the Diamond League in Crystal Palace.
Leading throughout most of the last 1,500m, Goodman was overtaken in the last 200m by Jonathan Hay and Zak Seddon, respectively the country's top young middle-distance runner and steeplechaser. Goodman, 18, recorded 8:16.85 to Hay's 8:12.25.
Goodman said: "The problem was not one of fitness, but of not having a race strategy. Last year I caught the opposition napping with a surprise break, but it would have been foolish to attempt that this time.
"I lost focus at various times in the race and wasn't able to respond quickly enough in the final few metres."
Roger Bruck made a significant contribution to the South of England victory in the British Masters Inter-area Challenge at Solihull.
Competing in the Over 70 category, Bruck, 72, recorded 1.20m in the high jump and 3.77m in the long jump, finishing runner-up to the European Over 70 champion in both events. He was also a member of the victorious relay team.
Bruck said: "I have now decided to look after my back and retire from jumping, but I am certainly not hanging up my running spikes yet."