Juniors reach finals of England Schools’ Championships

Nachshen, 14, contested the Junior 800m race on returning from a three-week school trip to Israel, during which an illness had necessitated several hospital visits. “That, and the inability to train, didn’t make for an ideal preparation”, he reflected.

“In the preliminary round, I was grabbed from behind and only placed fourth. In the final, I was positioned well in the first 600m, but then I was knocked off balance by a runner behind me and I finished sixth. It was disappointing but I’m in a good position now to regain my full fitness.” Nachshen’s times in the preliminary round and final were 2:02.88 and 2:03.19 respectively.

Radus made the final of the Intermediate Girls’ 1,500m despite being spiked with 200m to go in the heats. She remarked: “The final was tough; a slow start gave way to a very fast finish. I was well placed for most of the race but nerves and the hot weather meant that I was unable to maintain my position over the final 500m and I finished tenth.

“But I learnt a lot from the experience, including how to cope with heats and finals in major championships.” Radus’s times were 4:36.44 and 4:41.01.