BREAKING: GPS track and field won by Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School has claimed its second successive GPS Track and Field Championship after victory today at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
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Ipswich Grammar School has won its second successive GPS Track and Field Championship after victory today at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
The IGS 4x100m relay teams swept IGS to victory, toppling rivals with a stunning finale performance broken only by Gregory Terrace’s upset victory in the 14 years.
The final points were: IGS 483, BBC 435.50, NC 441.50, BSHS 391, ACGS 328.5, TGS 322, BGS 290.50, GT 279, TSS 221.
The Ipswich Grammar relays runners were in such form late in the day, that two GPS records were smashed - in the 14 years and open boys.
Ipswich Grammar School director of sport and activities Nigel Grieve said back-to-back success was a tribute to the depth of talent and coaching.
“We work on ensuring the boys are technically prepared and fit enough to be in the top five, that we have consistency across the events,’’ Grieve said.
“So a lot of other schools may have more wins, but we restrict how many times we are in the bottom five.
“So we have an amazing group of coaches, high end technically sound coaches.
“And Ipswich Grammar, for the last 50 years, have had a very strong culture of athletics.
“The boys feel it is almost their duty to continue that tradition of excellence.’’
Grieve made specific mention of the field team which played a huge role in getting IGS over the line to another GPS championship. “Our field, in the jumps in particular, were very strong,’’ he said.
It was a great competition, alhough IGS led throughout.
Brisbane Boys College made a move through outstanding middle distance running from Matthew Bennett (open, first), Will Chapman (16 years, second) and Cooper Johnson (15 years, first).
Chapman was unlucky to run into a white hot Cameron Tyne from Anglican Church Grammar School who pulled away after a sprint with Chapman and third placed Lachlan Ward (IGS).
In the 15 years Johnson beat IGS’s Samuel Pickett and Brasher Coutts (Nudgee College) to the line, while Bennett was mighty in the open 800m.
Then the sprinters swept into action, with Toowoomba Grammar School’s Jai Gordon scorching to victory in the open 100m dash from Jo Jo Fifita (TSS).
Ashley Wong (Nudgee College) sizzled in his sprint, beating BBC’s Clark while for the second time today, Gout Gout from Ipswich Grammar School had the crowd muttering in admiration of his efforts.
He beat Blake Russell from St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace who was gallant in running second.
Toshi Butlin (BSHS) was among the medals again, winning the 100m after earlier claiming the 15 years discus while Philip (Churchie) won his sprint.
Every dog had its day today, with Terrace’s Max VanBalen winning the college’s first event in the 14 years 400m, although that was later matched by the 4x100m relay winning team.
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The 400m also saw Ashley Wong (Nudgee) sweep to a triple treat of victories after earlier claiming his preferred 200m and 100m sprints.
Nudgee’s Alex Romano was then absolutely magnificent in claiming victory in the 400m 15 years, pushed all the way by BBC’s Cooper Johnson.
And not for the first time today, TGS had a star on the track, with Josh Roach coming second to Wong in the 400m while BBC’s Deighton was again outstanding, this time in winning the 400m open.
Earlier, Brisbane Boys College, Brisbane State High School and Ipswich Grammar School started splendidly on the track, with BBC winning the 1500m 14 years (Seth Mahony) and 1500m open (Gus Gannon). BBC also claimed second position in the 1500m 16 years (Flynn Pumpa).
In the race of the morning, Anglican Church Grammar School’s Cameron Tyne pipped Brisbane Boys College counterpart Pumpa in the closest of finishes during the 16 years 1500m.
Tyne dipped late to win a photo finish event, with BSHS’s Jack Crome in third place.
Gannon had a huge battle to claim the open 1500m, having to fight off a big challenge from Brisbane Grammar School’s Harry Chapman (second). Toowoomba Grammar School’s DeBortoli was third.
Indeed TGS also had a neat start, finishing second in the all age hurdles (Draheim) and placing in the 14 years 1500m (Charlie Randall).
Then, for the second time at the meet, TGS’s Gordon blasted his way to a PB 21.84 sec in the 200m open, beating a crack field which included Fifita (TSS, third) and Angus Deighton (BBC, second).
Gordon was like Flash Gordon, giving his all in a desperate race.
The 200m events were evenly spread between TGS. Nudgee College (Wong), BSHS (Butlin), Churchie (Charlie Philip) and IGS (Gout).
Indeed Gout Gout’s effort was not far off a GPS record.
Wong was again a stand out in both the 100m and 200m
Wong was coming off an excellent Queensland All Schools championships last weekend when he won three individual gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m, a rare treble in junior sprint sport.
He ran new wind legal PBs of 10.72 in the 100m and 21.17 in the 200m at the All Schools, and carried that form into today’s effort, with his 200m kissing up against a GPS record.
Aidan Cusworth from Ipswich Grammar School burst out of the blocks to have the honour of winning the first event of the day.
In the all age 400m hurdles, Cusworth was a clear winner from Toowoomba Grammar School.
Cusworth is a brilliant Queensland prospect who is driven by a burning desire to represent Australia at the world championships.
In the 1500m 13 years, Taylor Goodwin from Brisbane State High School backed up his first placing at the recent All Schools state titles with another resounding win this morning.
In second place was Lachlan Pennisi from Ipswich Grammar School.
BSHS placed again in the 14 years 1500m when Ethan Brelsford crossed the line second, but this time the event was won by Brisbane Boys College athlete Seth Mahony, with Toowoomba Grammar School’s Charlie Randell in third place.
Archie Ridgway of Anglican Church Grammar School was in sizzling form in the 15 years 1500m, striding out to claim victory from Joesph Saunders (BSHS) and Maley Wagner (IGS).
There was some tremendous hurdles action, with high class athlete Kyle Colburn (16 years, 110m) beating BBC’s Jay Sahlqvist.
BBC were on the podium again in the open 100m hurdles, with the impressive Jacob Fuller beating Archie Steele (TGS) and Joshua Carrick (IGS).
In field events, Sahlqvist (BBC) backed up to win his high jump and place third in the triple jump while school mate Alexi Chapman was second in high jump.
In the 4x400m relays late in the day, both Nudgee College and BBC showed their depth.
Nudgee won the all age relay, with BBC third, while BBC then won the 4x400m open, with Nudgee second.
BBC also gathered maximum points in the gruelling 3000m with Flynn Pumpa withstood a defiant Partrige of IGS.