Athletics Report
Week 3 | Saturday 7 September
Wow, thank you to all the boys who turned up on the weekend and competed!
There were so many Shore boys out at SOPAC on the weekend that it was hard to keep track of everyone, but as the results came in, it was exciting for all the coaches to see so much talent from our School.
Our second School record for the season goes to Harrison Brunker, Year 9, for smashing the U15 Shot Put record by 35cm, throwing 14.11m. His new approach in the ring has seen huge gains this season. Well done Harrison. Thomas Eaton, Year 8, backed up his record time from last week, with 13.23 seconds for the U13 90m Hurdle. Great work Thomas.
With only two meets left, it was important for boys to post a result in the events they wish to compete in at the GPS. Some outstanding results were recorded.
Field Events
Thomas Hamilton, Year 9, back from injury jump 1.75m in U15 High Jump, Logan Crookshanks, Year 11, also back from last year jumped 1.79m for U17. Harrison continues to jump well, again clearing 1.90m in U16, but high jump of the week has to go to U13’s Henry Plowman, Year 7, who jumped 15cm better than the previous two weeks to clear 1.55m. Just phenomenal!
It is so important to acknowledge, that it is a combination of excellent coaching and hard work from our Shore boys that sees improvements like this each week.
In Shot Put, a number of boys came along for their first time this season and did well. In U13 Archie Tonkin, Year 8, gave it a red-hot go. In U14 Isaac Kasprowizc, Year 8 and Chris Suaalii, Year 9, did well, putting themselves in contention. In the U15, it was always going to be difficult to beat Harrison Brunker, Year 9, while in such form, but Ben Gordon, Year 9, did well, as did Lawson Armstrong, Year 10, returning to Shot Put after numerous injuries. In the Opens, Jamieson Lyne, Year 12 and Angus Leslie, Year 11, got back to fighting form, both putting themselves in contention for a GPS throw.
In Long Jump, Toby Cay, Year 8, and Henry Frape, Year 8, battled it out for the number one spot in U14. In U15, Michael Hocking, Year 9, keeps going up by 50cm each week, again the coaching doing him wonders. Ollie Mott, Year 9, back from illness managed to get a competitive result as well for U15. It was great to see Luke Maclennan, Year 10, and Marcus Warner, Year 12, back to Athletics, both jumping themselves into the team. However, jump of the day has to go to the explosive Jai Callaghan, Year 11, who jumped 6.41m in his first outing for the season.
Track Events
Again, it was great to see so many boys competing on the weekend, from the sprints to the longer distances. The track will continue to heat up in our final weekend as times are so close, boys will need to be at their best to secure their spot in the Championship races, or Division race where there is one. Dylan Baxter, Year 9, got back his fine for in the U14 100m and 200m. Joel Hamilford, Year 10, and Luke Maclennan, Year 10, both ran themselves into contention for the U16 4x100m, with a spot opening up after Nick Wendt, Year 10, suffered a ACL injury earlier in the year. In U17 and Opens the numbers were huge, as exams had finished for most. Rex Bassingthwaighte, Year 11, Jai Callaghan, Year 11, and Charlie Dale, Year 12, all going sub 12 seconds for 100m, providing Mr Consistent, Charlie Mott, Year 11, with an exciting team for the 4x100m race at GPS if they continue their form. Year 12 athletes Nick Stacker and Preston Scott also went below 12 seconds, with Marcus Warner and Tom Malcolm both also getting so close.
In the 400m, it was great to see some gutsy runs by Year 10 boys Henry Wheeler and Liam Kennedy. Preston Scott, Year 12, also ran a season-best of 51.55 seconds but is aiming to still take another second off that for GPS.
In the distance events, Ben Hockey, Year 11, continues to shave time off his 800m and 1500m times. And James Bestic, Year 11, posted a strong 1500m time this week as well. It was great to see Will Bestic, Year 9, back from illness this week, running a strong 800m. But an outstanding run from Henry Grieve, Year 7, meant he put himself right up there with the best in his age group to potentially secure a spot at the GPS in the 1500m. Finally, Tom Gray, Year 10, who has consistently run the 3000m, finally cracked 10 minutes, which is an achievement thoroughly deserved. He also ran the 800m, posting a time that puts him as the number 1 runner for U16 at GPS if uncontested.
Well done to all the boys who competed. Saturday 14th Shore hosts the track events at ES Marks to round out the Invitationals before the big dance next weekend.
Mr Jono Sparks
MIC Athletics