Personal Bests, Medals and Trophies - an exciting week for Shrewsbury Athletics

It has been a busy week for the Athletics Squad – numerous PBs, Medals and a winning the prestigious Trophy ‘The Chris Brasher Trophy’ for the 4 x 400m Relay at the Achilles Relays.  

Achilles Relays

34 athletes travelled to Iffley Road, Oxford for the Achilles Relays on Thursday 5th May – home of where Sir Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile. The Achilles Club is the athletics club of current and former members of Oxford University Athletics Club and Cambridge University Athletics Club.  

Highlights of the day were: 

1st U17 Boys 4x400m Final (3.40.9) - Awarded the ‘Chris Brasher Trophy’.  

Chris Brasher attended St John’s College, Cambridge. He won Olympic Gold in the 3000m steeplechase in 1956 and a Gold in the World Student Games in the 5000m 1951. He also was Founder of the London Marathon. Shrewsbury finished ahead of St Paul’s, Eton, Brighton and Bedford to claim the trophy this year. The team consisted of Harry P-M (I), Daniel O (Rt), Jack K (PH) and Max L (R). 

2nd Mixed Open 4x400m (3.45.0) ahead of Oakham, Hampton, Brighton, Millfield. 

3rd Men's Open 4x800m (7.35.2) ahead of Hampton, Uppingham & Millfield. 

2nd Men’s Open 4x400m (3.41.5) ahead of Brighton, Bedford, Hampton and MSC. 

3rd Open Girls 4x800m (7.31.2) ahead of LEH, Millfield, Uppingham, Brighton and MCS. 

King Edward’s Birmingham 

On Saturday 7th May, the Boys competed at King Edwards Birmingham v Bromsgrove, Loughborough, KES Worcester, Bloxham and Nottingham. Highlights of the meet were: 

• Raphael C (Ph, III) – 1st Junior 300m 
• Monty W (S, III) – 3rd Junior 100m 
• Seb P (R, UVI) – 2nd Senior 100m, 2nd Senior High Jump, 3rd Senior Discus 
• Harry P-M (I, IV) – 3rd Inter 200m & 2nd Inter Long Jump 
• Brad K (R, V) – 1st Senior 800m & 3rd Senior Triple Jump 
• Johnnie T (Ch, III) – 1st Junior 1500m 
• Zac W (Rb, III) – 3rd Junior 1500m 
• Hamish G (Ph, V) – 2nd Inter 1500m 
• Ethan P (R, III) –1st – Junior High Jump & 1st Junior Long Jump 
• Gordon S (I, III) – 3rd Junior Long Jump 
• Daniel O (Rt, IV) – 1st Inter Long Jump 

English School Track and Field Cup 

On Monday 9^th May the Inter Boys and Girls Squads headed to Telford to compete in the English School Track and Field Cup. This is an exciting, competitive event – schools can only enter 14 athletes and all athletes must compete in field and track event. Overall the main result was the Boys finishing 2^nd in the Inter Boys. The event is based on a points system – depending on how quick you run or far you throw you are awarded points for your team. We are waiting to see if our point total is good enough for us to gain entry in to the second round of the cup. Well done all! The team consisted of:

Girls: Amelia B (MSH, III), Artemis W (EDH, III), Ella O (G, III), Denise M (M, III), Catty C (MSH, IV), Emily H (G, IV), Towa N (EDH, IV), Alannah D-J (EDH, IV), Grace Y (G, IV) and Sophie S (M, IV)

Boys: Zac W (Rb, III), Harry P-M (I, IV), Dan O (Rt, IV), Monty W (S, III), Bamidele S (Ch, III), Henry C (Ch, III), Gordon S (I, III), Jack K (Ph, IV), Raphael C (Ph, III), Will R (O, III) Max L (R, IV), Oliver P (O, III) Ethan P (R, III) and Leon B (Rt, III).

University Birmingham Track & Field Series 

On Wednesday, May 11th, three of our athletes travelled to Birmingham University to take part in their Summer Series. This is an opportunity for athletes to race strong opposition, look to record Personal Bests and hope to get close to European Qualifying Standard and English Schools times. On Wednesday evening there was also a BMC (British Milers Club) races – facilitating fast competition – the premier middle distance club in the Country. 

Iris D (G, LVI) 

Iris races in the BMC 800m finishing 1st in a time of 2.05.64 - over 3 seconds off her current PB! Her time was 2.5 seconds under the U18 European Qualifying time and only 0.64 seconds off the U20 World Qualifying time – a tremendous achievement – well deserved Iris and huge congratulations from all of us! 

Jack K (PH, IV) 

Finished 1st in his first official 400m. Clocking 50.36 - this puts Jack at No 2 in the UK U17 Rankings and achieving his first English Schools Entry Time. An exceptionally quick 400m – well done Jack! 

Harry P-M (I, IV) 

Finished 1st in his 400m with a time of 54.08 - another quick lap time! Not only was Harry part of the 4x400m winning team at the Achilles, but he also competed at KES Birmingham before heading off to a Ski Competition in Manchester! Well done, Harry! 

The week ahead: 

Tomorrow (Saturday 14th May) Shropshire County Championships at Telford. 58 athletes will compete tomorrow on what promises to be a very successful day. More PBs and the opportunity for students to add results to their Power of 10.

Good Luck all! 

Miss Emma Davis
I/C Athletics