Abingdonian 2018

46 The Abingdonian Athletics The Athletics Club has enjoyed many highlights this season. Pupils have experienced success on both an individual level and in a team capacity. Abingdonians have competed on a local, county, regional and national level which shows the club is growing healthier as each season progresses. It was fantastic to be able to welcome visiting schools to Tilsley Park on two separate occasions to compete in our Lower School multi-event which is now in its second year, as well as the Inaugural Senior Athletics Meet, something that we look to expand on in the future. Achilles Relays Competing at the Achilles Relays this year was particularly poignant after the passing of Sir Roger Bannister only a month before the competition took place at the famous athletics track on the Iffley Road, where history was made all those years ago. Before proceedings got underway a fitting tribute was made to Sir Roger, who stunned the world by running the first sub-four minute mile in a time of 3.59.4. A feat that was once deemed impossible. Inspired, the senior athletes qualified for the final of the 4x100m in a time of 46.9 seconds, averaging 11.7s per runner. Special mention must go to junior athlete James Connelly who ran for the seniors, due to a late withdrawal, holding his own against the older competition. The juniors narrowly missed out on a place in the final of the 4x100m (51.3s) and 4x200m (1min 50.2s), but ran respectable times for their first taste of track racing. The senior 4x400m team secured third place in a time of 3min 38s. Special mention must go to Thomas Butcher who ran a blisteringly quick leg, showing great potential for the rest of the season. The 4x800m backed up their 400m counterparts also placing third. The intermediate and junior middle distance runners ran valiantly against a quality field including the likes of Harrow, Eton and Millfield. Radley Relays Early in the season athletes from all age groups made the short journey to Radley to compete in their annual track meet. This is an event that attracts some of the top independent schools in the country including the likes of Harrow, Eton, Rugby and St Paul’s. The senior squad consisting of