Oxfordshire Track & Field League

Boys,  Such is the talent and character of the Oxford boys team that even on a sweltering day,with many of its regular stars missing due to the calls of other competitions - not to mention the small matter of a World Cup last-16 match against Germany - Oxford did enough to carry off the overall boys’ title in the Oxfordshire League.  Once again the throwers and sprinters proved their strength both as individuals and as a team unit, with Tomas Napiorkowski finally getting a big discus throw of 34.07m to win the U15 discus, which he soon followed with victory in the shot by more than half a metre over his nearest rival. Alfie Howlett won the u13 boys shot, to go with a second place in the B string 100m and a good javelin throw of over 25m. Adam Smith, in his first 75m Hurdles race, used his speed between the hurdles to record a 15s second place, and later added a first place in the A string 200m, recording a new PB of 28s. George Burton also starred for the under 13s, for the second week running producing a fine 800m run in 2:30.8 to gain 2nd place in the A string, before winning the A string high jump with 1.41m, and getting second place in the B string 200m in 28.5s.
Matthew Gain, particularly relaxed in the sunshine, took time off showering his team mates with cold water to record his customary victories in the U15 100m and 200m, though there was nothing relaxed about his manner of victory as he equalled the club record of 23.3s set last week with another powerful and fluent run in the 200m following an earlier win in the 100m in 11.6s. Among the other u15s, good support was offered by Max Tavinor, with another PB in the hurdles and a strong run for third place in the A string 400m, Krishan Parameswaran with good places in the 100m, 200m and long jump, Alex Jones with B string second places in the hurdles and long jump, and Tom Anstice, quietly toiling away for a 3rd place in the B string shot, 2nd in the A string javelin and 2nd in the B string discus.  The under 15 team looks strong, even without its middle distance runners, and will be once again hard to beat in 2011.
The under 17s were most affected by a lack of athletes, but nevertheless dominated the sprints, with Gift McLaren and Tom Downs taking A and B string 100m races before having to settle for 2nd places in the 200m. After a long injury lay-off Ollie Wingfield donned the Oxford vest for the first time this summer, producing a good javelin throw for 2nd place in the A string, and a 61.4s 400m - an event he normally avoids because it is four times further than he likes running. 
Finally, huge congratulations to the u 9 and u10 boys Quadkids team which won all three of this season’s matches at Horspath, Banbury and Tilsley Park to become the new Oxfordshire Quadkids cup-holders.  Well done to u9s Jack Judson, Adam Byles, Jago Downs and Isaac Molan, and to u11s Sam Powell, George King Thompson, Charlie Stoker, Jean-Aymeric Gasc, Nick Midworth, William Hale, George Millicheap, Ben Macdonald, Joseph O'Callaghan.

GIRLS
The last Oxford Track and Field event of the season saw soaring temperatures and a depleted team, mainly due to many of the older girls competing in Bournemouth the previous day.  A particularly big thank you to all those who competed in both as this meant that we came a fabulous 3rd in the League overall!  Massive congratulations to everybody who competed through out the season.  A great result which can even be bettered next year!
Not surprisingly, although we were 3rd overall the U13's came 1st in their age group.  They have been the most extraordinary team throughout the season both on and off the track and the PB's have just kept on coming due to both extreme effort and amazing team spirit.
Once again Simi Fajemisin ran PB's in her 100 (13.5)and 200m(27.40) races - way ahead of her rivals coming first in all her events.  Alice Hopkins in the 100m (14.6) and Alice Byles in the 200m (29.30) both with PB's ensured that we also had firsts in the B strings.
Beth Mulvany led all the way in the 800m to win in a PB of (2;40.1) and Ciara Huxley ran a courageous B string in the heat of the day, also running a PB (3;03.0) - amazing.
Storm Sunderland once again ran a jaw dropping race in the 1200m, a PB of 4;00.2.
Danielle Garden our fabulous Javelin thrower saw off the opposition with a winning throw of 19.6 whilst Alice Byles ( discus), Alice Hopkins ( Shot) and Sophie Shorter ( Javelin) all threw great throws in events that are not their speciality.  But, in the U13 team the day belonged to Charlotte Smith - three PB's in 3 events - Long Jump 3.76m, High Jump 1.30 and Discus 15.24 rounded off by a stunning win in the relay - catch us if you can is now their motto!
In the U15's Billie Meadowcroft burst into smiles as she jumped 1.30 in the high jump a huge improvement on her previous PB of 1.20 and also threw a PB in the discus unfortunately forced to retire before the 800m due to a cut in her leg. Jess Daniels threw a PB of 7.37 in the shot only just behind 2nd place. The U17's were dominated by the outstanding performances of Adela Hussain.  Her tireless training has paid off as she took first in the 200m with a PB of 27.00, second in the 100m with a PB of 13.3 and only 0.01m behind 2nd place in the long jump.  Hattie Papworth jumped a PB in Long Jump and came second in the javelin with Jess Anstice noblely running the 300m and  taking 2nd in the shot.  Ellie Burns, despite chipping a tooth moments before the race took first, running just outside her PB, but obviously in pain.
It's not often you can say we did better than the England team, but today we took home a trophy!