It was a delight to see so many young athletes trying to develop
their skills this year, with a number of them progressing to
the Somerset Schools representative teams.
A number of records were set during the term: by Maisie
Brown in the sprints and triple jump (school, county and South
West records); by Joe Cooke, who re-arranged Sports Day records
in the high and long jumps, and by Aaron Chapman (long jump),
Alicia Mileham (triple jump), Erin Slade (300 metres) and Grace
Murray (rounders ball). It was amazing that so many did so well
considering the very poor weather in the first half of term and the
subsequent demands of the exams.
Highlights of the season included a couple of excellent 200m runs
from Will Potter, who demonstrated his ability away from the
tennis court when winning the county title in a time only 1/100th
of a second outside the school record - having also come close on
Sports Day, when he raced away with the victor ludorum award
for his age group.
Sports Day saw a good spread of the victor and victrix ludorum
awards amongst all the Houses: Joe Cooke (Tuckwell),
Jack West (Woodard), Aaron Chapman (King Alfred), Kazi
Szymanski (Bishop Fox), Olivia Pittman (Carpenter), Maisie
Brown (Meynell) and Gemma Bulbulian (Taylor). There was a
reasonable spread amongst the team awards: Taylor, Meynell
and overall girls' team, Carpenter - though the boys' awards
were dominated by Woodard (four trophies), leaving Tuckwell
(one) and Bishop Fox (two) to keep the Woodard hordes at bay
- though they were 2nd in each case!
In June, over 30 King's pupils attended the Somerset Schools
event, medals being won by Maisie Brown (1st in 200m and triple
jump); Joe Cooke (1st in high and triple jump); Will Potter (1st in
200m); Aaron Chapman (1st in long jump); Oliver Fox (2nd in
1500m); Chloe Martin (2nd in long jump) and Alicia Mileham (3rd
in triple jump). All athletes contributed to the Taunton Area team
collecting 10 of the 13 county trophies.
Five of the athletes went forward to the South West Championships,
with Joe Cooke and Maisie Brown winning their triple jump events.
Oliver Fox came 2nd in the 3000m, whilst Aaron Chapman and
Chloe Martin took part in the long jump events.
Athletics
By Richard Llewellyn-Eaton
Sport
Maisie Brown wins the triple jump at the SW
Schools competition
Oliver Fox wins the 3000m race at the SW Schools
meeting, setting a school record
Victor ludorum William Potter wins the 200m on
Sports Day
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