Year 7 and 8 District Athletics

On June 10^th, 65 GMS students travelled to Hillingdon Stadium to see if all of their athletics practice had prepared them well enough to compete in the District Athletics Championships. Athletes from 12 different schools, both male and female and from Years 7 and 8 respectively were present and all keen, as ever, to compete.

At GMS we had prepared the students by running two athletics practices a week from the beginning of the term. As we neared competition date we selected the best of the best to represent the school and the PE Department on the ‘show case’ day.

Each team had a captain, who had earned their role through demonstrating good leadership and communication skills during practices, which would enable them to ensure all events on the day were attended by all of our athletes. Additionally, they would be ready to receive any silverware should the teams be victorious.

A good day’s weather would allow all events to be completed and would also allow our students to maximise the potential team score. As is tradition with GMS students, we appeared to be better in the field events than the track, however, Jevan Carter showed great promise in the hurdles, whilst Harry Denson picked up qualification for the 200metre final. Furthermore, George Vaughn and Jacob Wratton picked up points in the Year 8 boys 400metres (the iron man race), turning in similar times around the 64 second mark, impressive for a Year 8! Oli Saunders stunned himself and his fellow Year 8s with a 1st in the 1500 metres, finishing in 5:02.

GMS didn’t stop there. The Year 8 girls who had some seriously tough competition from Wycombe Abbey, Wycombe High and Godstowe, were picking up important points throughout. Emily Amendwas placed 4th in the hurdles, closely followed by Georgie Webb. Emily went on to pick up 6th place in the 200metre final, where she also beat the school record! Elsewhere, Sophie Smyth came 2nd in the long jump and Flo Braybrooke placed 5th in the 1500metres.

As the results came in at the end of the day, it appeared that the girls were really up against it this year; a strong team will score 100 points, (10 points for a 1st and 1 for 10th ), 4 of the schools scored in excess of 100 points meaning the GMS girls were placed 5th in both Year 7 and Year 8.

A brilliant day. GMS thanks everyone involved.