The Chronicle, Autumn 2018

43 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

30 schools from across the country. At this event, it was the senior boys’ sprint squad of Dekoye, Josh, Max, Louis Williams and Will Monks who produced what was the Warden’s favourite result of the season. The 4x100m relay team qualified from a tough heat and then ran a perfect race to win bronze medals behind Harrow and Millfield. The 4x800m team ran an excellent race to finish 4th, the stamina of Jack Verschoyle, Fergus, Ollie and Jöergen being more suited to longer races: if only there were a 4x1500m relay too! The juniors were able to compete in the mid-week City Championships and did so admirably. The Shell girls just missed out by two points on 1st place, whilst the Fourth Form girls demonstrated great team spirit and strength in depth as they finished 1st. The same happened in the boys’ competition with the Shell boys finishing 2nd, and the Fourth Form boys dominating the track and field to finish as runaway winners. In the second half of the season we said goodbye to a group of longstanding, immensely talented and dedicated Upper Sixth athletes. Another trip to Marlborough produced more impressive performances and personal bests, most notably Sam Gorton in the inter 800m and 1500m, the Fourth Form girls for their enthusiasm and willingness to try everything and the senior boys who once again won the relay event. At Abingdon, there were a whole host of 1st places on the track and in the field which culminated in overall victory for the senior boys and 2nd place for the inter boys. The newly designed yellow backed vests were certainly prominent as they flew around the track. At the Oxfordshire County Championships, Dan Hoggar became County Champion in the 200m, breaking Dekoye’s four-year record in the process, as well as winning silver in the 100m and bronze in the long jump – the full set. Charlie Crisp produced an impressive throw to become County Champion in the shot put and there were excellent performances from William Robertson-Acolet, William Parry and Felix Abel. The season finished with an emphatic display of multi-eventing at Radley, our athletes demonstrating just how talented

Becky Drury

Captain Livi Tomacelli on the start line of the 200m at Marlborough.

they are across a range of events. They, of course, have their specialisms but on these two afternoons the boys demonstrated their ability to sprint, jump, throw and run longer distances. The Lower Sixth won their team competition as a result of performances from Max Liddy who won gold in the individual event, Josh Moore silver, Fergus Flory fourth, Louis Williams seventh, and Roman Bricusse eighth. The Fourth Form were also victorious in their team event with Dan Hoggar winning individual gold. Sprinters can run a good 800m after all and these boys were determined not to let their weakest event affect the overall team scores. In the Bedford Super 8s the Lower Sixth once again demonstrated their team spirit and motivation across all track and field events in winning the competition. The Fourth Form finished in 2nd place; with more training and teamwork they have the

potential to follow in the footsteps of the highly talented Sixth Form. In particular last year’s Captain, Dekoye Coker, left us as an exceptional athlete and role model, not just during the last season, but throughout his five years as a major part of the athletics team. Bedford summed up his commitment, dedication and perseverance. Not part of the team, as it was a Lower Sixth only event, he drove from London to meet us at Bedford so that he could guest in the 100m and run his last race in the school vest. It was his last attempt at breaking the senior 100m record and running sub 11 seconds, something he came very close to achieving. He left Teddies as a record holder in the junior and inter 100m and junior 200m as well as being a part of each record-breaking relay team. His legacy as an athlete and exceptional human being will, I am sure, continue into next season and beyond.