GPS Senior Track and Field Championship won by Nudgee College

The GPS Senior Track and Field Championship has been won by St Joseph’s Nudgee College - but only just.

St Joseph’s Nudgee College fended off a fast finishing Ipswich Grammar School to claim a thrilling victory in the GPS senior track and field championship tonight.

IGS dipped last in the meet to threaten to overrun Nudgee College, surging to successive victories in the 13 years and 14 years 4x100m relays.

But ulitmately Nudgee had a big enough lead, withering displays by speedsters Ashley Wong, Ethan Grimshaw, Lachlan Cox and Cooper McInnerney having aided Nudgee’s pursuit of victory.

Nudgee also claimed the 16 years and 17 years relays which was enough to raise them to safety - but only just.

It was Nudgee’s first GPS track and field championship win since 2015 - the last of a three in a row surge.

Final senior points: Nudgee 453.50, IGS 434, BSHS 419.50, BBC 373.50, Churchie 353, Terrace 296, BGS 286.50, TGS 275, TSS 273.

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Earlier in the day, Nudgee College also claimed the junior track and field championship in a photo finish from Churchie, with Terrace third.

Final junior standings were: Nudgee 654, Churchie 549.5, Terrace 514, BGS 500, BBC 482.5, TSS 438, TGS 404, IGS 383, BSHS 173.

In the seniors, things really hotted up between Nudgee and Ipswich Grammar School in the 100m, with Nudgee taking the honours in the 13 years (Ethan Grimshaw) and IGS returning serve in the 14 years Gout Gout).

Then Nudgee went bang-bang-bang, claiming the 15 years, 16 years and open 100m dashes.

Cooper McInnerney claimed the 15 years and Lachlan Cox then scooted home - by a whisker from BSHS’s Toshi Butlin - in the 16 years 100m before Ashley Wong (opens) blazed home.

Ashley Wong of Nudgee claimed the 100m and 200m double.

Nudgee continued momentum with a 13 years 400m victory by Grimshaw - again - with Ipswich Grammar School’s Rakuita pushing for second, and then a second place to Williams in the 14 years 400m.

But hats off to The Southport School’s Max Durrington (14 years, 400m) for overcoming Nudgee’s Williams with a final 10m surge after the pair went down the home straight neck and neck.

Brisbane Grammar School's Alex Thakur wins the opening event of the day, the open 400m.

Churchie’s Jack Love was also a track star today, icing his efforts with a big hearted 400m victory (15 years), but Nudgee were back in the winners circle when James Swao powered to a win in the 16 years 400m.

Earlier, to start the day, Alex Thakur had a fantastic victory, winning the open 400m for Brisbane Grammar School.

Nudgee James Swao beams after his 400m win.

In the captivating first 1500m event of the day, BSHS’s Angus Brown claimed victory with a beautifully timed race.

BSHS then made it back to back wins with Taylor Goodwin easing clear of Nudgee’s Curran to claim the 1500m 14 years event.

The 13 years 1500m event at the track and field, won by Angus Brown (BSHS).

Seth Mahony then produced a whale of a 1500m performance. He was strong and steady the whole way, never losing shape in his run to the line.

But the best was yet to come when Archie Ridgway scorched to a 16 years, 1500m GPS record win. Indeed he surpassed the old mark by almost five seconds in a high class effort.

Both Bouwmeester (TSS) and Rayner (BBC) also went under the old mark, highlighting the quality of the field.

St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace Griffin Kelly then roared home in the 1500m open.

Terrace's Griffin Kelly went on to win the 1500m open.

In the open high jump IGS’s Moses Deng thrilled onlookers with his scissors jumping.

With every height, the IGS crowd cheered and his deeds brought great delight to GPS track and field veterans like BGS living legend Ron Cochrane who recalled Churchie old boy Chilla Porter and his scissors high jumping deeds from the 1950s.

IGS's Moses Deng clear the high jump height.

The 200m swept into action, with IGS’s Gout Gout claiming the 14 years, Grimshaw (Nudgee) the 13 years and Jack Love of Churchie and Trew of BSHS had a fabulous 15 years race.

Wong (Nudgee College) did what everyone thought he would do - have a rollicking victory in the 200m - but competition was stiff.

Two-time Olympian Cedric Dubler helps one of the young BBC jumpers.

In hurdles action, Sean Putra Susilo pushed Nudgee further ahead with a stunning 13 years 90m hurdles performance, Harrison Purcell (IGS) was class in the 14 years hurdles while Jack Love (Churchie) put the foot down to win the 15 years.

Churchie's Jack Love after his hurdles win.

IGS’s Kyle Colburn meant business in the open hurdles, blazing to victory in a high class field that included Easton and Sahlqvist, while BSHS’s Joel Templin hurdled his way to maximum points for his school in the 16 years hurdles.

In 800m action, BGS’s Archie Boorer worked wonders to win the 13 years event, while BSHS’s Taylor Goodwin had another win, this time in the 800m.

BGS's Archie Boorer won the 13 years 800m.

BBC’s Seth Mahony added another middle distance win with a commanding victory in the 800m 15 years, while TSS’s Harry Bouwmeester had a thrilling victory in the 16 years 800m, needing the length of the straight to win.

Seth Mahony of BBC after his 800m win.

Brisbane Boys College had more to cheer about when Matthew Bennett pulled away from the field to claim the open 800m.

Bennett had to pull the big strides out, and he did, and the wreckage at the end of the race emphasised just what effort was needed to win.

Nudgee's Lachlan Cox reflects after winning the 100m, 16 years.

One of the biggest roars came late when the Terrace supporters found voice to bring Ollie Casey-Ryan over the line to victory in the open 400m.

Casey-Ryan ran to the point of exhaustion, falling into the arms of supporters as he was ushered from the track amid back slapping and wild applause.

Terrace's Griffin Kelly went on to win the 1500m open.

There was a kick in the tail late in the piece from Brisbane Boys College who won both the 4x400m relay all ages, and then the 4x400m open relay.

The 3000m open was then claimed by Charlie Sprott (Brisbane Grammar School) before the fast and furious finale courtesy of the 4x100m relays.

Charlie Sprott of Brisbane Grammar School won the open 3000m.

What a performance it was by Sprott.

The GPS cross country champion from earlier in the year, Sprott dropped himself back to fourth midway through the race before surging through the field to win comfortably.