Lonah holds on to 10,000 Euro crown
ATHLETICS LONAH Chemtai Salpeter all but secured her place at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo after breaking the Israeli 10,000 metres record on the Parliament Hill track in London.
Defending champion Salpeter set off at a fast pace in the European Cup race and had soon built up a significant lead, passing through 3,000m in 9.18. She held her advantage until the midway stage of the race before Steph Twell, cheered on by home supporters, started to close the gap. She caught up with Salpeter with four laps remaining and stayed on her shoulder before hitting the front with 500 metres to go.
Salpeter was unable to respond as Twell accelerated to the finish line in 31:15.78. As Twell was competing as an individual club member in the race, not as a national, Salpeter claimed first place in the European Cup standings, Her time was a 17-second improvement on her previous Israeli record.
Emma Taylor, 18, threw the javelin more than 34 metres for a second time this season when she placed third at the Youth Development League meeting at Allianz Park with 34.47m, proof that a change of training regime is paying dividends.
“I changed coach a year ago, and that involved learning a new technique,“said the JFS pupil, whose natural talent for the javelin at the age of just 12 prompted her PE teacher to direct her to her local athletics club, Shaftesbury Harriers.
“Of the 10 technical points we have to keep in mind, we focus on three at every training session, varying the mix each time.
“I’ve also been doing a lot of strength and power work, which helps to build more momentum. That, together with a good run-up and a technically correct release of the javelin, will help me to keep on improving.”
Taylor’s personal best so far is already almost a four-metre improvement on last season. She aims to reach a distance of at least 36 metres before the outdoor season finishes in September.
Another Shaftesbury athlete, David Stone, 17, was the fastest of 56 runners over two 3,000m heats at the Watford open. He crossed the line in 8:43.42 to cut 12 seconds off his previous PB, despite a strong wind swirling across the track throughout the race.
Dina Silverman continues to show great promise in her first competitive season, this time completing the 1,500 in 5:26.26 at Parliament Hill. Silverman, 11, is now nationally ranked at U13 level in both the 1,500m and the 800m.
In Manchester, U15 Ellie Wolfenden added 10 centimetres to her PB on clearing 2.21 at the Sportcity pole vault open.