Chronicle Summer 2024

60 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Athletics By Becky Drury, Head of Athletics

At the Gaudy prize-giving ceremony this year the Guest of Honour Chris Macdonald OSE, regaled former Teddies’ pupils with fun stories from his days at School and inspiring words. Chris also echoed the ethos of the Athletics Club when he advised the pupils in the marquee to, “always look up”. To look up is something the Teddies athletes have been reminded to do all season. As they sprint down the home straight in the 100m, or as they produce an impressive finish at the end of a middle-distance race, the coaches can often be heard shouting “look up” and “focus on the finish”. These are technical tips but our athletes have also been encouraged to look up all season in a psychological sense, to always strive for that personal best, or to achieve one more place in a track and field event. There have been medals to celebrate this season, first at the Radley Relays where the boys’ team finished in the silver medal position out of 10 schools. Other highlights included the 1st places achieved by the junior and senior 4 x 400m teams, and the junior B 4 x 100m team. At the Radley Multi-Events the senior boys’ quartet of Aidan Walker,

Charlie Spencer, Jack Wood, Nina Brown, Alice Hannah, Gemma Wright and Laura Hempleman at Marlborough

Marshall, Thomas Poole and Jack Nelson also performed very well to achieve bronze medals in their first multi-events competition. At the Marlborough Nitro Event conditions were less than ideal (in fact conditions have been less than ideal for most of the season!), but great resilience was shown by all, and the relays and races were exciting to watch. Not least the senior boys’ 4-minute max relay in which the team of Aidan Walker, Jack Wood, Theo Balzano and Kit Heffer retained our title, executing their tactics perfectly. Overall, both the senior boys and girls finished the afternoon in 2nd place out of the seven competing schools. The second Nitro was just as exciting, the highlight this time were the two senior elimination mile races. Aidan Walker, Charlie Spencer and Ronan Mulji dominated to complete a 1,2,3 ‘podium’ finish, and Florence Williams and Nina Brown similarly dominated their mile race to achieve 1st and 3rd. The home commentator said that these races were “the finest example of middle distance running seen on their track this season”. The boys’ team enjoyed two trips to Harrow in the early part of the season. Always a tough fixture, the quality of the athletics on show is high and the

Walt Moore, Kit Heffer and Jem Mavroleon again finished the afternoon with silver medals, just behind The Coopers’ Company and Coburn School, but ahead of Eton, Radley, Abingdon and others. The junior boys’ A team of Alex Hitchings, Horace

Toros Esen