Lenskiy, Presiado capture sprint doubles at nationals

Lenskiy missed last year’s championships due to a drugs ban, but proved she is still the fastest woman in Israel by regaining both titles, clocking a time of 23.45 seconds in the 200m.

By ALLON SINAI
Updated: JULY 3, 2015 01:25
Olga Lenskiy (photo credit: ASAF KLIGER)
Olga Lenskiy
(photo credit: ASAF KLIGER)
Olga Lenskiy and Imri Presiado completed the sprint doubles at the Israel athletics championships at Hadar Yosef Stadium in Tel Aviv on Thursday, adding the 200-meter title to the 100m gold medal they won a day earlier.
Lenskiy missed last year’s championships due to a drugs ban, but proved she is still the fastest woman in Israel by regaining both titles, clocking a time of 23.45 seconds in the 200m final on Thursday.
Lenskiy was well short of registering the time (23.20) that will see her qualify for next month’s World Championships in Beijing, but still has a month to do so.
“I’m pleased with today’s run because I came within five hundredths of a second of my personal best,” said Lenskiy. “I’m in good shape and I think I can set the criteria over my upcoming events.”
A day after breaking Esther Roth-Shachamarov’s national junior record in the 100m from 1971, 16-year-old Diana Weisman showed her potential once more by clocking 24.37s in the 200m, smashing a junior record from 1989.
Presiado clocked a new personal best time of 21.25s on the way to first place among the Israelis in the men’s 200m.
“I work all year to be crowned as the fastest man in Israel and win these titles,” said Presiado. “I expected to run even faster today, but I’m still pleased.”