OCAC juniors pipped at the post NYAL
Another magnificent day for Oxford’s boy’s team in the National Young Athletes League, including a remarkable 10 wins and 6 second places in the 12 sprint races, backed up by some powerful throwing and middle distance running, was only spoiled by the fact that the match was lost to Radley by a mere 9pts. The day began well, with U13 Oliver Hudson getting the first of many first places and PBs for the Oxford team in the 75m hurdles. He was followed by Max Tavinor winning the U15 80mH and Marcus Woodington taking the U17 100mH. More was to come in the 100m with Adam Smith and Alfie Howlett storming to first and second in the u13 100m, Matthew Gain streaking to victory in the U15 100m and Gift McLaren and Tom Downs continuing their summer-long duel in the U17 100m, this time Gift coming out on top with Tom in second place. The 200m was scarcely different, George Burton winning from the long striding Antonio Dell in the U13 200m, Matthew Gain repeating his success in the 100m and at the same time setting a new club U15 200m record of 23.3s, and Gift and Tom again battling it out for top honours in the U17 race. In the remaining 400m sprints James O’Callaghan trimmed almost a second off his PB to win the U15 race, leaving Marcus Woodington to go for a clean sweep in the U17 only to lose by 0.1s to the Radley athlete. A tired but impressive sprint squad can be pleased with their day’s work.
In the middle distance events there were encouraging performances from George Burton in the U13 800m, winning in a time of 2:30.00, and Alex Cooper, winning in the U15 race with a new PB of 2:17.5. In the 1500m Matthieu Marshall ran strongly for a 2nd place, while Ryan Meredith pulled out the stops for a good victory in the 3000m and a third place in the 1500m. Michael Ruiz would have slept well that night after repeatingd his impersonation of Red Rum, tackling the 100mH, 400mH and 1500m Steeplechase, coming away with two thirds and a fourth place, and a good soaking into the bargain.
In the field events there were high jump wins for Andrew Busby and Matthew Gain, long jump wins for Mark Warland and Alex Cooper, and U13 and U15 Shot victories for Alfie Howlett and Tomasz Napiorkowski. Marcus Woodington won the U17M Javelin. The day ended with a clean sweep of the 4 x 100m relays for the U13, U15 and U17 boys, and a brave victory in the U15 4 x 400m relay, Krishan Parameswaran running the third leg with a gashed toe sustained at the changeover. It was a day of outstanding athletics for the Oxford boys, which would have been all the sweeter if their talents had been rewarded with a points victory over Radley.
Not to be outdone, the girls shone! The day started with the hurdles with Emily Carstairs way out in front to take a first for the U17’s. Charlotte Smith ran brilliantly for a second for the U13’s and Jess Daniels ran 13.5, a PB for her in the U15’s. A 2.21.5 PB for Lauren Hawtin gave us a win in the 800m U17’s and what a close run the U13’s had in the 800. Not in her favourite event Alice Hopkins was only 0.04 seconds behind the winner with Georgina Moss only 0.04 seconds behind her. Shaznay Sumbu keeps getting stronger with each competition, running a PB in the 75m, joint second with 11.1. and running another PB, this time in the 150m – 21.1.
Always destined to be a great race, the U17’s 100m did not disappoint. Emily Moore saw off the opposition winning in 13.4 with Adela right behind her in joint second on 13.8. There was much more to come as the wind lessened and temperatures rose. Jade Walker ran a brilliant, well calculated 3000m in 11.20.1.
Rebecca Hill, a great example of combining exams with competition, ran a PB in the 300mHurdles, with Ellie Burns her team mate taking first in the 1500m.
PB’s for Emily Murphy and Zoe Webber in their 200ms and for Elisha Evans and Beth Mulvany in the 1200ms. Zoe Webber had a great day with another PB in her 300m along with Lauren Hawtin. Beth Hawtin -5.01.2 and Hannah Iveson -5.38.5 cleaned up in the U15’s 1500m
On the field the U17’s were extremely strong and we were all hoping for over 30m for Tilly Vaughan Fowler in the Javelin. Sadly it was not to be today, even though she annihilated the opposition with a throw of 26.3. She did however pole vault a PB of 2.00m. Emily Carstairs won the shot and the High Jump with Adela Hussain jumping a long jump PB of of 4.60. Again Emily Moores performances were outstanding in Long jump, 5.18 and Triple jump 9.89.
A great day but to come second overall with only 9 points in it was a little disappointing – but Radley have some of the best female athletes and we will surely get them next time!