Captain Fantastic!
On a glorious afternoon at Salt Ayre, the Fourth Year athletics captain Umar Falalu blew the Sports Day competition away, breaking four records in his five events. He ran 11.4 in the 100m, better by 0.3secs; 23.2 in the 200m, better by 0.2s; 11.3 in the hurdles to take 0.3s off a thirty year old record. It was in the high jump, however, that he held the crowd of 200 people spellbound and silent, as they watched him clear 1m 81cms to improve the old record by 3cms. Needless to say he won the Victor Ludorum, the school’s prize for best individual performer in his year group.
There were other terrific performances. Joe Bywater beat the opposition in the 400m by 50m in 54.2s, as well as winning a close 800m race against Jamie Braithwaite. Jamie went on to win the triple jump. Ed Dunkley only just beat Jamie in the 1500m in another close finish. Al Fairhurst just beat Tim Hendry in the long jump and Kim Jun-Yeong held his nerve in javelin to beat Jamie Braithwaite. Zak Wardell won both shot and discus to take the field event trophy and in the form competition 4G stole the honours with 121 points ahead of 4S with 112.
In the Third Year competition no records were broken but there were some very competitive events. Individually there was close competition with James Riach coming through to take the Victor Ludorum against last year’s champion, James Deed, by just 3 points – 38 to 35. James Riach had victories in the 800m and Triple jump with James Deed winning the javelin with a terrific throw of 39m 70cms but coming 2nd in three events – 100, 200m and high jump. James Riach also got two silvers in 1500m and javelin to put him on top. Other track results produced wins from Otis McKie in 100 which equalled the previous record of 11.7s and 200m (24.7), Nick Phillips in 400m (58.8), Dunc McKenzie in hurdles (13.4s) and Matt Shackleton in 1500m (4.38.2), just 0.4sec off the record. Otis also won the high jump (1m 50). James Anderton took the discus (25-05) and there was a surprise winner in shot with Sam Timpany putting 8m 93. James Riach was awarded the field event trophy and Otis the track.
Rowan Stennett was a runaway winner in the Second Year Victor Ludorum with wins on track in 100m (12.3), 200m (25.6), 400m (59.3) and smashing the triple jump record by just short of a metre in the field to 12m 17cms from 11m 20. This put him well ahead in the individual competition with Dan Ruscillo as runner up with a win in hurdles (13.0) and a second place in 100m. Other winners on track included a close win by Ed Duffy from Sam Jeffrey in 800m (2.30.0) and Mark Bevan running clear in 1500m (5.18.0). In the field, squad athlete Adhvik Shetty produced a powerful 10m 21cms to win shot; Matthew Lack took discus (23m 29) and Isaac Medhurst the high jump with 1m 30cms. Surprise winners here included Ben Taylor who won the javelin (30m 36) against Josh Thompson while Harry Bashall came from nowhere to steal the long jump from Jay Darlington with 4m 49cms.
The First Year individual competition was the closest of the day with Will Fraser-Gray pipping Matthew Bargh by just 1 point 35-34. Will ran strongly in 800m (2m 28.2) and also took the high jump (1m 25), as well as being 2nd in 1500m (5m 22.5), 3rd 100m (13.5s) and 5th in javelin (12m 86) to take the crown as best all round athlete. Matthew chased him hard with a win in triple jump (9m 44), 2nd in 200m (29s), 3rd in 400m (70.4s), 800m (2m 39.7) and javelin (13m 55). Dom Thompson was 3rd individually, only 2 points behind Matthew. He won long jump with 4m 49cms. Callum Owen won the track trophy for equalling the record of 12.7s and taking the 200m (27.9s). Laurence Cheetham won both hurdles (12.1s) and shot putt (7m 95); Luke Milner ran a strong 400m (67.2s) to just beat Laurence, while Andrew Hughes won 1500m in 5m 16.0s. In the field Tom Fyfe came through to take the discus (20m 17) and Zach Gilbert threw 18m 09cms to win javelin.
