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Ipswich Grammar School wins the Sir John Goodwin Cup GPS Track and Field Championship

Ipswich Grammar School won the Sir John Goodwin Cup GPS Track and Field Championship in the most dramatic fashion today, with the title coming down to the final event of the day.

Ipswich Grammar School won the Sir John Goodwin Cup GPS Track and Field Championship in the most dramatic fashion today, with the title coming down to the final event of the day.

IGS broke Brisbane Boys College’s three year winning streak by accumulating 473.50 points – just one and a half points more than BBC.

To add to the drama, BBC protested the final 4x100m event of the day which, if IGS had been disqualified, would have meant BBC retain the Goodwin Cup.

It was IGS’s first Track and Field title since 2012.

BBC were again outstanding at the GPS Track and Field Championships.
BBC were again outstanding at the GPS Track and Field Championships.

It was a simply stunning day of track and field which also saw Brisbane State High School improve to third position (396) from Nudgee College and Brisbane Grammar School.

BBC moved marginally into a winning position after the five, 1500m events which saw BBC go second (13 years, Seth Mahoney), third (14 years, Michael Deighton), first (Flynn Pumpa, 15 years), first (16 years, Matthew Bennett) and second (open, Patrick Thygesen).

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With only the 4x100m relays remaining, the IGS sprinter conjured up one final effort too win the 13 years, 14 years, finish second in the 15 years and then win the 16 years while BBC finished with minor placings.

Churchie runners Ky Robinson and Archue Ridgway at the GPS Track and Field Championships.
Churchie runners Ky Robinson and Archue Ridgway at the GPS Track and Field Championships.

The 4x100m anchor leg tussle between Kaleb Clark (BBC) and Kyle Colburn (IGS) in the 15 years summed up the entire day as it was a blanket finish that could have gone either way.

Highlights rebounded around the stadium, including a stunning double to Anglican Church Grammar School middle distance runner Ky Robinson, and a triple treat performance from Nudgee College sprinter Ashley Wong.

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The day started overcast conditions but that did not deter Tyler Brimblecombe (IGS) winning the first event of the day, the 13 years discus.

IGS actually had early field success winning through Will Sullivan (15 years discus) and Colburn (15 years long jump).

Aiden Cusworth, left, at the GPS Track and Field Championship.
Aiden Cusworth, left, at the GPS Track and Field Championship.

Nudgee got off the mark courtesy of Ethan Pectos (16 years high jump) while Clark and then Lachlan Rayner struck for BBC.

Toshi Butlin showed signs of things to come across the day when he shone in the 14 years discus.

Pat Thygesen was brave in victory.
Pat Thygesen was brave in victory.

Brisbane Grammar School’s Alex Thakur, coming off winning the 14 years triple jump, dipped his head on the line to beat Israel Leota by the slimmest of margins in the 90m 14 years hurdles.

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What a finish it was as Thakur managed to just beat a competitor who defeated him at last year’s GPS championship.

A 400m runner as well, Thakur is a relative newcomer to hurdles where he is coached by Stephen Howes and Harry Green.

Leota, a multi-talented athlete, also had a grand day for Ipswich Grammar.

BBC hurdler Jacob Fuller with his coach Eric Brown after running a PB at the GPS Track and Field Championships.
BBC hurdler Jacob Fuller with his coach Eric Brown after running a PB at the GPS Track and Field Championships.

In the 16 years 110m hurdles, BBC’s Jacob Fuller outlasted Joshua Carrick (IGS). It was a PB performance by Fuller who returned to the winners podium after finishing second in 2018. He is coached by renowned jumps coach Eric Brown.

Spirits were high at the GPS Track and Field Championships.
Spirits were high at the GPS Track and Field Championships.

IGS sprinter Aiden Cusworth was an absolute powerhouse.

This has been a year to remember for Cusworth, a real breakthrough period in his career which includes winning the national 400m hurdles title in April.

Churchie at the long jump pit during the GPS Track and Field Championships.
Churchie at the long jump pit during the GPS Track and Field Championships.

When the 200m events swung around, Churchie’s Cameron Philip broke a 13 years GPS record, beating BSHS’s Bailey Tron and BBC’s Matt Bayley.

Butlin was in action again for BSHS winning the 200m 14 years in PB time.

Alex Thakur of BGS at the GPS Track and Field Championships.
Alex Thakur of BGS at the GPS Track and Field Championships.

Also coached by Brown, he won the 100m, 200m, the discus and was third in the shot put.

It has also been a huge 2019 for Butlin who did not place at the GPS last year, but who has made giant strides in 12 months.

The coveted open 200m was won by Trezban Banjo.

The powerhouse Toowoomba Grammar School sprint pair at the GPS Track and Field Championships.
The powerhouse Toowoomba Grammar School sprint pair at the GPS Track and Field Championships.

BBC surged to win three of the five 800m events, and finish second in another.

Lachlan Ryan was second to a gutsy performer while Noah Burke (BSHS) did well coming off winning at the Queensland All Schools two weeks earlier.

BBC’s Cooper Johnson (14 years) broke through for his first GPS 800m win while Will Chapman (BBC) surged to win the 15 years, beating Nudgee’s Harrison Turner.

St Joseph Gregory Terrace supporters at the GPS Track and Field Championships.
St Joseph Gregory Terrace supporters at the GPS Track and Field Championships.

The 16 years 800m was a great race between Nick Coonan of TGS and IGS runner Makuol.

And what a race is was in the open 800m, with Patrick Thygesen (BBC) hanging on, only just, to beat BGS runner Adam Taib.

Thygesen, knowing Taib had a kick in him at the end of the race, attacked 300m from home to try and put some space between himself and the fast finishing Taib.

It worked, but what unfolded was one of the fine moments of the day.

Three wins for Ashley Wong at the GPS Track and Field Championships.
Three wins for Ashley Wong at the GPS Track and Field Championships.

The 100m sprints were shared around as Churchie’s Cameron Philip snared the 100m-200m double in the 13 years, and Butlin rose to the occasion in the 14 years for BSHS.

Alex Thakur dips on the line to beat Leota of IGS.
Alex Thakur dips on the line to beat Leota of IGS.

Wong sizzled to win the 15 years and then Toowoomba Grammar pair Jai Gordon (16 years) and Harry Callow (opens) caused a boilover. It was a grand result for TGS.

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Wong lifted his tired body to win the 400m for Nudgee, while Nudgee teammate Alex Romano ran a great race in the 14 years 400m to beat Cher DEng (IGS) and Cooper Johnson (BBC).

Burke (BSHS) struck again in the 13 years 400m, while IGS pair Joseph Gehrke and Nicholas Meek prevailed in the 16 years and opens.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southwest/sport/ipswich-grammar-school-wins-the-sir-john-goodwin-cup-gps-track-and-field-championship/news-story/24b775f9bb63744b8688ec827ff2bb2d