Over 150 Salopians represent Shrewsbury in remarkable Athletics season

Shrewsbury School's track and field athletics season has been remarkable, with over 150 pupils representing the school at various meets and competitions throughout the term.

The growth in participation has been truly inspiring, showcasing the dedication and talent of our young athletes.

Shrewsbury School began the season with an invitation to return to the prestigious Achilles Schools' Relays, an event rich in history and tradition. This year marked the competition's 60th anniversary, with 22 schools participating and attracting top schoolboy talent from across the country. Our school stood out by participating in all relay formats, providing our pupils with invaluable experience competing against some of the best athletes in the county.

Highlights of the meet came in the Lord Noel-Baker Trophy, where our U17 boys, after winning their semi-final, finished 2nd in the final, with some fantastic performances from our pupils in the early part of the season. The Douglas Lowe Trophy finalist senior boys made it through the heats and finished fourth in the final. The Christopher Chataway Trophy saw our U17 boys finish 2nd in the 4x400m after winning their semi-final.

In the Intermediate Track and Field Cup, a national competition, our pupils put on a fantastic performance, finishing as runners-up and narrowly missing out on qualification for the regional finals. Our standout performers from the boys' team were Hugh A (O,IV), who ran 12.3 seconds in the 100m and scored 20 points for the team; Ifeoluwa O (Ch, IV), who ran 12.2 seconds and also scored 20 points; and Kieran H (Rt, IV), who scored 14 points for the school.

In the girls' competition, where pupils have to do a track and field event for this team format, our standout performers were Maggie W (G, IV) running the 200m in 28.2 and scoring 15 points, and Eleanor M (MSH, III) running the 1500m in 6:10.12 and scoring 14 points.

The Shropshire Clubs County Championships in May again saw outstanding individual performances, with Zak W (SH, V), Jack K (SH, LVI), and Harry P-M (I, LVI) shining brightly. The event saw the achievement of 35 individual medals and the proud representation of 60 pupils from Shrewsbury School. Our Hunt athletes, who stepped onto the track after a successful season, showed what good shape they were in, with Zak W reining in personal bests. Zac got a PB in the 800m, running 2:12.60, and a PB in the 3000m, running 10:06.10. Jack K and Harry P-M both recorded dead heats in the 400-metre final, running times of 50.40.

Another highlight of the season was our participation in the Millfield Grand Prix, where 50 students showcased their talent and dedication. Notable individual performances from athletes like Daniel O (Rt, LVI) and Harry P-M contributed to our school's impressive overall 3rd place finish in the senior boys category. Our senior boys, senior girls, intermediate boys and intermediate girls all made the top 5 performers in the competition out of 12 schools from across the west region of the UK. Daniel O achieved a distance of 5m 80cm in the long jump, while Harry P-M secured first place with a time of 4min 09sec in the 1500m.

As exams loomed, our 3rd and 4th form pupils displayed exceptional commitment by competing in the Birmingham University meet, organised by King Edwards Birmingham and featuring schools from across Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The team spirit was strong as our athletes pushed themselves out of their comfort zones, achieving personal bests and scoring valuable points for the team. The boys' team emerged victorious, with the girls finishing a commendable 2nd. A special mention goes to Daisy P (M, IV), Hayyan M-O (Ch, III), Ifeoluwa O and Oliver R (Rt, IV) for their outstanding performances. Dora W (M, IV), running the 300m in 48.71 pb time, was the highlight of the meet for the girls' team. Georgia G (MSH, IV) ran a strong 1500m in 5:36, and Daisy P won the shot put with a distance of 8m 10cm. In the boys' competitions, highlights were Yuta F (SH, IV) winning the javelin with a throw of 29m 56cm, Oliver R and Al W (SH, IV) coming in 1st and 2nd in the 1500m in 4:43.9 and 5:14.1 respectively, and Ifeoluwa O winning the long jump with a jump of 5m 20cm.

The season concluded at Bromsgrove School, where our athletes undoubtedly left their mark. Arjun C (O, III) won his 300m in 42.40, and Joe B-A (SH, III) finished in 2nd place in the 800m with a very respectable 2:24, all contributing to a third-place finish in the junior competition.

Kieran H finished in 11.9 in the 100m, Alex M (I, V) finished 2nd in the 800m in 2:13.4, and Ifeoluwa O made a PB performance in the long jump, recording a winning distance of 5m 72cm.

In the senior competition, Daniel O and Howard G (Rt, LVI) secured the first and second places in the long jump, while Zac W's performance of 58.4 meters in the 400m contributed to the senior boys' overall third place in the team competition.

Our intermediate girls finished 2nd in the team competition, with Denise M's (M, V) standout performance in the 100m and long jump, as well as Chiara C's (MSH, IV) positive placings in the high jump and hurdles. Our junior girls came in 3rd overall, with Carys T (EDH, III) and Eleanor M being fantastic team members and often showing a great attitude by stepping up to fill gaps for the team and contributing consistently, with our girls making the top 3 performers in every team competition they have taken part in this year.

We have a few students in good shape as they head into July and August, hoping for more positive performances on the track. Finley C (O, LVI) made a PB in the 1500m, running 4:23.58 at the Bannister Mile event, part of the British Miler. Jack K made effective use of his time, achieving another personal best time at the Belfast British Milers Club event over the weekend of June 15th. He ran 1:50.48, which is inside the U18 qualification time of 1:51 for the second time. Harry P-M ran 1:32.84 in the 800m on 15^th May which is a PB for him and he is hoping to go faster as the season progresses.

We are excited to see Harry and Jack represent Shrewsbury School at the English Schools, both in outstanding form and running personal bests. Their upcoming performances in July and August promise to be nothing short of spectacular. We wish you all the best of luck, and we hope to record some outstanding individual performances on the track, potentially leading to (finger-crossing) international vests. We are proud of both boys, who continue to push each other.  

A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated staff who have supported our athletes throughout the term, nurturing their talent and passion for track and field athletics. The success of the season is a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved, and we look forward to even greater achievements in the future.

Liam Hennessey

Assistant Director of Sport