Last Saturday, eight Abbey athletes competed in the Berkshire Schools Track and Field Championships. They qualified after competing in the Reading Town Championships before half term, finishing either 1st or 2nd in their event. The County round saw the top athletes from each area of Berkshire compete against one another and the standard was high! Despite the heat, strong wind and a demanding couple of weeks of exams and residentials, our students displayed determination, skill and resilience throughout the competition.
In the Junior Girls category, Nimechi secured a silver medal in the discus, throwing an impressive 24.20m. This was a well-earned reward for her hard work and consistency this season. In the 1500m, April showed incredible grit and endurance, battling through tough conditions to finish strongly in a highly competitive field. April continues to work relentlessly and we are very proud of her achievements.
The jumps events also brought excellent results, with Georgia placing 5th in the high jump with a clearance of 1.40m, and Luna finishing 5th in the long jump with a jump of 4.54m. Both athletes have made notable progress this season and should be proud of their continued development. We missed Serena in the long jump, who is currently out with an injury. We all wish her a speedy recovery.
Rosa also placed 5th, this time in the 75m hurdles, transferring her agility and flexibility from aerobic gymnastics into a confident and composed performance in what is still a new event for her.
In the Inter Girls category, Riya won gold in the javelin, with a throw of 27.86m in an incredibly tight contest — edging out the silver medallist by just 4cm! Meanwhile, Susie narrowly missed out on a medal in the triple jump, placing 4th with 9.91m, only 1cm away from the bronze. As a newcomer to triple jump this season, her result is a remarkable achievement and highlights her versatility.
Finally, a special mention goes to Matilda, who balanced her GCSE examinations with competition commitments. She not only qualified for the Inter Girls 300m final but stormed to the bronze medal, knocking an incredible 3 seconds off her qualifying time! Well done!
Congratulations to all of our athletes on their outstanding performances, particularly those who competed following a packed week of school residentials. You are all a credit to The Abbey. Well done!