Stone seals team silver

ATHLETICS DAVID Stone capped an outstanding season by securing team silver at the World Schools’ Cross Country Championships in Paris.

Competing against athletes two years his senior, Stone was the only Year 11 member of the six-strong England team. He finished in 31st place, completing the 5.5km course in 17:08, an average speed of 19.2km per hour. With 105 runners representing 18 countries contesting the race, team gold was won by Morocco.

Running in warm temperatures over a flat and dry course, Stone faced very different conditions from those of his domestic races this year. “The race started fast and I did not feel too good, although I moved up a few places later on,” he said. “I really think I am better suited to the mud and the hills.”

His mastery of those conditions saw him win the England under-17 title in his first year in the age group, as well as the Schools Home Nations International last month.

Gilad Nachshen and Maayan Radus began their track seasons by setting personal bests that placed them top of the national U15 rankings. Nachshen recorded 2:03.28 for 800m at the Highgate Open Meeting at Parliament Hill, while Radus set a 3,000m time of 10:20.41 in Watford.

At the same meeting, Biny Bloom, 14, set a mark of 4:42.52 for 1,500m while Rosalind Zeffert moved to top of the national V55 rankings with a 100m time of 15.88. Hannah Viner set a parkrun personal best of 17:12 at Hackney Marshes.