Cameron Hantonne (in black) completed a track double and was just edged out in the long jump. (Pictures by Tom Tardif, 0783037)
A RECORD-BREAKING performance by St Martin’s Cameron Hantonne, in the Year 6 boys’ sprints, was the highlight of the annual junior schools athletics championships held at Foote’s Lane.
Hantonne had previously won the hurdles race and then went on to break the five-year-old record in the sprints in a time of 11sec., a performance that built on last year’s achievements when he broke Dale Garland’s 25-year-old record in the Year 5 hurdles.
Among the girls, Vale Junior school pupils Jade Packham and Chloe McDonald were particularly impressive.
Packham won the Year 5 girls’ double of sprints and hurdles followed by Year 6 pupil Chloe McDonald, who was also dominant in both sprints and hurdles.
Their performances were of particular merit as both girls are inexperienced athletes.
Hannah English should also be pleased with her performances on both track and field. Despite a nasty tumble in the hurdles she went on to win the Year 5 long jump final, ran excellently to win the Year 5 600 metres race and even managed a second place in the sprints.
The closest race of the championships was in the Year 5 boys’ sprints where the first three finishers shared the same time.
After much deliberation the officials decided that Alfie Penney had just come home first.
In contrast, the Year 5 boys hurdles race was won convincingly by William Thompson.
The distance races were of top quality and reflected the great potential that the GIAAC has at this age group.
Katie Rowe won the Year 6 800m race in an impressive 2 min. 45sec. but she was chased all the way by Rebecca Stewart who is a fast improving athlete.
Among the boys the Year 5 600m race saw an exciting finish where Teddy Gordon Le Clerc just hung on to beat Edward Mason, while Max Robin led from the front to secure the Year 6 800m in 2-41.
The most impressive long jump performance was from James Browning who was the only athlete to clear four metres with a leap of 4-01.
But not before an exciting tussle with Hantonne who had led until the final jump when Browning beat the competition leader by seven centimetres.
There was an equally close competition in the Year 6 girls’ long jump final where Bernadette Benstead just stayed ahead from Honor de Garis with a jump of 3-67. Jordan Kelly won the boys’ Year 5 long jump by one centimetre from Robbie Legg.
The throwing events saw Tristan Queripel throw an impressive 50m to easily win the boys’ competition, while Zoe Filtch threw consistently to win the girls’ event.
There was a record number of entries for the championships and it was pleasing to see that there were so many winners.
The 18 different events produced 14 winners.
Attention now turns to the high jump competition, the annual RG Falla/Smokebusters championships in mid-June and preparation for the inter-insular match against Jersey in July.Junior Schools Individual Championships: Record entry for Foote’s Lane event
Article posted on 9th June, 2009 - 2.29pm
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