Sandra Luke Memorial 5 Star & 10 Step Competition

In its 29 year history, rarely has the Oxford City 5 Star and 10 Step Competition witnessed so much top class athletics in a single day. In good conditions, with sun and a breeze to assist throwers and sprinters, and with more than 400 competitors taking part, the scene was set for a hard fought contest. In the end the competition produced some outstanding individual performances, a handful of records, and countless personal bests. Out of 176 girls aged 10-15 a staggering 45% achieved the 5 Star award, while among the boys the figure was 32%.

In its 29 year history, rarely has the Oxford City 5 Star and 10 Step Competition witnessed so much top class athletics in a single day. In good conditions, with sun and a breeze to assist throwers and sprinters, and with more than 400 competitors taking part, the scene was set for a hard fought contest. In the end the competition produced some outstanding individual performances, a handful of records, and countless personal bests. Out of 176 girls aged 10-15 a staggering 45% achieved the 5 Star award, while among the boys the figure was 32%.

All age groups were closely contested, but it was the among the u13 girls that the standard was highest, with 29 out of 36 entrants earning 5 Stars. In such a competition the winner was going to need a special effort, and so it was that eventual winner Kierra Barker (Basingstoke and Mid Hants) amassed a total of 245 points to set a new all time record. Kierra’s achievement was also recognised by the award of the Georgina French Trophy for the outstanding female performance of the day. It was Alexandra Cross of Radley AC’s misfortune to meet Kierra in such good form, for her total of 240 points equalled the existing all time record and would have been enough to win the age group in any previous year. Sophie Merritt (Southampton AC) in setting the fifth highest total of 235 point was only able to manage 3rd place. Oxford’s Simi Fajemisin, with a total of 227 points was edged out of the medals but can count herself unlucky to have encountered three such talented athletes at one match; such was the quality of this competition that her total puts her in 9th  place among the all time leaders. Not to be outdone, Amy Busby led the field among the u14 girls all day to finish with another all time record of 244 points (bettering the record of 242 points set 13 years ago by Oxford’s Michele Johansen) and three PBs in the 100m, 200m and Long Jump. But it didn’t stop there. Spectators were treated to a further remarkable performance from Oxford’s Matthew Gain who, despite falling below his best in the high jump (only 1.50m on this occasion) smashed the u15 boys’ record set in 2006 to go top of the all time u15 leader board. His 100m and 200m times of 11.8 and 24.3s confirm his current excellent form, and Matthew was duly awarded the Sandra Luke Trophy for the outstanding male performance of the competition. Other notable performances from Oxford athletes came from Olivia Strickland in the u11 girls, Shaznay Sumbu who took third and Alice Hopkins in the u12 girls contest, Beth Mulvany and Charlotte Smith in the 13 girls, and Jess Daniels in the u14 girls. Among the boys Adam Smith was unlucky to be squeezed into 4th place in the boys u12 with a performance which would have won silver last year and which puts him 15th on the all time leader board; Alfie Howlett was similarly one place off the medals in the u13s, but Krishan Parameswaran pulled out the stops to gain bronze medal and 13th place on the all time leader board among the u14 boys.

The 10 step competiton saw almost 70 boys and girls in the under 8 and under 9 age groups with many competing for the first time.  In the under 8 girls Temi Fajemisin of Oxford City took gold with 61 points and a 7 step performance while in the under 9’s Harriet Eyles of MADJA and Harriet Kearsley of Forest of Dean AC shared the top spot with 9 steps and 69 points. The under 9 boys was very close with 6 boys achieving 10 steps. The winner Sam Couzens of Bicester AC scored 85 points just 2 points ahead of Sam Darnistan of Oxford City and Jack Mawer of Lakeside School. Performance of the day in the 10 step went to Rory Howorth of Team Bath Tribe who won the under 8 boys with a massive 92 points and 10 steps. This performance also earned him the Barrie Strange 10 Step Trophy

A big thank you  to all the officials and helpers for making the day a success