Great Scot - The Scotch Family Magazine - Issue 149 December 2016 Great Scot - The Scotch Family magazine issue 149 | Page 48

Senior School

Sport

Keen to improve their running,
jumping and throwing
The 2016 athletics season was another
successful one, with more than 300 Scotch boys
participating in training and at external meets. The
sea of red uniforms at these meets highlighted
the strong level of engagement within the sport
of athletics at Scotch. While the program is not
defined by the numbers of boys competing each
week, it certainly does suggest our boys are keen
to develop their athletics capabilities and look to
improve their running, jumping and throwing.
Regular run-offs, personal bests and
willingness to give all things athletics a go were
trademarks of our lead-up meets. Our boys
showed some excellent early season form,
finishing third in the All Schools State Relays boys’
divisions, in which 19 Scotch teams participated
with commendable results. We won a total of four
medals, including gold in the under 18 medley,
silver in the under 20 4 x 800 metres, and bronze
in the under 14 and under 18 4 x 100 metres.
The boys competed well on Heats Day in the
lead-up to APS Finals Day. The team performed
exceptionally, qualifying for 17 of 23 A finals,
with the highlight being all 4 x 100m relay teams
showing excellent form and precision changes to
qualify for A finals.
There were many highlights for the team on
APS Finals Day, none more impressive than Archie
Wallis (Year 11), who won both the under 17 800
metres and 1500 metres. Jack Kudelka (Year
12) backed up from last year’s 100 metres win
with an impressive run of 10.90 seconds, to win
back-to-back open finals. He followed this run with

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third place in the 200 metres, recording a time of
22.21 seconds.
Louis David Hanna (Year 11) threw 13.13
metres in the open shot put to finish second. He
was one of several throwers who recorded top
four performances on the day, with Henry Hayman
(Year 8) and Irfan Hrelja (Year 9) also throwing over
13 metres, to finish third in the under 14 and under
16 age groups respectively. Fred Strong (Year 8)
jumped a huge personal best of 11.79 metres in
the under 15 triple jump, finishing second. Sam
Darcy (Year 7) was the best performed under 14
high jumper, with his jump of 1.65 metres earning
him third place.
Finn Maginness (Year 9) had a day to
remember, competing in three events. He finished
equal second in the under 16 800 metres, and
backed up to run impressive legs in the open 4 x
800 metres relay (fifth) and in the under 16 4 x 400
metres relay (fourth). Our open and under 17 4 x
100 metres teams also performed well to finish
second.
The Scotch Athletics squad eventually
recorded a competitive sixth position. In doing so,
it finished ahead of last year’s runner- up, Xavier
College. The standard of competition is extremely
high, and our boys should be commended on
their approach and willingness to match with many
state level athletes.
This year the team has been well led by
Captain Jack Kudelka and Vice Captains Matt
Bennett and Andy Edgerton. These boys and
their fellow Year 12 team members committed

strongly to the athletics program in their final year
of schooling, and provided essential role modelling
and leadership for our younger athletes.
The Wickens Medal – awarded to the best
performed athlete in each age group – went to
Sam Darcy (under 14), Fred Strong (under 15), Finn
Maginness (under 16), Archie Wallis (under 17),
and Jack Kudelka (open). The Chris Commons
Award for best performed field athlete was won by
Louis David Hanna, and the Don Davenport Award
for outstanding contribution to Scotch athletics
went to Jack Kudelka.
Congratulations to these boys and to the
entire team for their participation, enthusiasm and
dedication.
Head Coach, Leana Joyce, led the coaching
staff extremely well. Her attention to detail and
forward planning gave our boys the best possible
opportunity to develop. Our coaching and
teaching staff linked up very well, to provide a
positive and structured environment. This dynamic
is a critical part of our program’s success, and I
am grateful for the role each of these people plays.
Special thanks must go to Ms Karen Kimber, as
Year 7 and 8 TIC. Her leadership, diligence and
organisation were instrumental in the success of
the season.
STUART POWELL – DIRECTOR OF SPORT

RIGHT, TOP LEFT: MATT BENNETT AND LACHLAN BANKS
CO MPETE IN THE HOUSE RELAYS.
RIGHT: ADAM ZHOU TAKES A MIGHTY LEAP IN THE LONG JUMP
BOTTOM: CORDNER-EGGLESTON CUP PRESENTATION. DION
JOHNSTONE (CAPTAIN OF FOOTBALL) WITH THE CUP.

Great Scot Number 149 – December 2016

www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot

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