The Chronicle Autumn Term 2017

30 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Athletics By Becky Drury, Head of Athletics

Hamish Roots OSE Hamish Roots OSE

Rose Fawcett ( Cheltenham Ladies’ College ), Selena Thompson ( SylviaYoung ), Nellie Bates ( The Brigidine ), Livi Tomacelli ( Cheam ) and Poppy Sullivan ( Windlesham House ) training at Oxford University’s Iffley Road track.

The boys’ 1st team had one of their best seasons as a team winning the Marlborough fixture and achieving 3rd place at Harrow. The medley relay team of Brume Otubu OSE, Dan Brady OSE, Dekoye Coker ( Summer Fields ), Cameron King ( Davenies ) and Alfie Armitage- Hookes ( Dulwich College ) achieved bronze medals in the Radley relays behind Harrow and Eton and the 4 x 100m team came 5th, out of 15 schools. Individual achievements were plentiful: Dekoye Coker was 2nd in the 100m at Harrow and Marlborough; Alfie Armitage-Hookes was 2nd at Harrow and Marlborough in the 800m; and Dan Brady was 2nd in the 200m and 1st in the 100m B race at Harrow. Dekoye Coker and Tanaka Chitsenga OSE became County Champions in the 100m, Triple Jump and Long Jump respectively, as did Daniel Hoggar ( Wellesley House ), a Shell at the time. It is good to see talent coming through the School as we say goodbye to this outstanding group of Upper Sixth athletes who between them hold many individual school records and who broke the 4x100m relay record every season since their Shell year. The girls’ 1st team achieved 3rd place overall at Marlborough and Brandi Akpobome OSE dominated girls throwing events, winning the shot, discus and javelin at Marlborough each time and also winning the 100m B race. Brandi also broke her own school discus record and the school javelin record this year. She now holds all three school throwing records and these will take some beating; she has been a truly fantastic athlete during her time at Teddies. Also at Marlborough Lizzie Dorey OSE won the 800m and came 2nd in the 1500m, and

Lola Willcock ( Beaconsfield High ) improved her personal best with each race coming 2nd in the 200m. It was great to see so many Lower Sixth girls choosing athletics last term; they have a clear desire to be better, faster and stronger, an excellent attitude to fitness and training. The junior boys’ team enjoyed their few athletics outings by claiming 3rd place in the Radley Relays at the beginning of the season; Daniel Hoggar, Harrison Wells ( Abingdon Prep ), Felix Abel ( Caldicott ) and Joshua Roy ( Oratory Prep ) won bronze medals finishing just behind St Paul’s and Eton. The medley team achieved 5th place out of 17 schools with Jack Barrett ( Summer Fields ) running a strong 800m after the sprinters had run their three legs of the relay. This boys’ team enjoyed further success at the City Schools’ Championships; continuing a fine

tradition they followed in the footsteps of their predecessors by winning the overall team event. Numerous first and second places meant that Teddies once again had a large representation at the County Championships in June. It was fantastic to field such full and competitive girls’ and boys’ teams at fixtures last season and to see so many new faces on the track. I really would like to thank Captains Dan Brady and Brandi Akpobome, and Vice- Captain Brume Otubu, for their leadership of the athletics team this year. They are not only outstanding athletes, holding numerous school records between them, but they are excellent role models. Their commitment to training and dedication on match days is a fantastic example to all our younger pupils in School.

Tanaka Chitsenga OSE in training.