GIRLS’ ATHLETICS - SOUTHPORT AND FORMBY GIRLS ATHLETICS MEETING

Our first competitive athletics event of the season saw Year 7, 8 and 9 teams from CTK pitched against 6 other schools who were in the majority placed in Division 1 in the Sefton Schools Athletics League – a division above our girls. Unfortunately, our Year 10 girls did not compete as they were on their 2 week work experience placements. It was a baking hot day on Greenbank High School’s field and it was particularly daunting for our Year 7 girls who had never experienced running, throwing or jumping events in a ‘proper’ competitive situation before other than against their peers in lessons. Mr Lancaster and Mrs Oliver organised a trip to Litherland Sports Park to practise the Hurdles and High Jump events with the competitors in our boys’ and girls’ squads and that visit paid off in dividends, allowing Lauren Simpson to jump 10cm higher than her previous best of 1m 5cm.

As coaches, we advised our girls to aim for their own Personal Best and to remember that their fellow competitors were in a higher division, whilst obviously aiming to get as high up the rankings in their competition as they could. As ever, our girls did not let us down. Special mentions to girls in Year 8 and 9 who were placed in the top 3 in their event, great achievement considering they were competing against girls a division above them:

Y8 - 3rd Place - Maisie Johnson: 1500m, Raven Lawson: Shot Putt

Y9 - 2nd Place - Rhiannon Lawrie: Shot Putt, Amy Ellison: 800m

We were very proud when the final results were read out that our Year 8 team came fourth overall in their competition – beating a Division 1 team in the process!

A lot of the CTK Girls’ all-time athletics records were smashed in a great afternoon and the girls gained a lot of experience from the occasion.

SEFTON SCHOOLS ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS –DIVISION 2

On Monday 22nd June our transport left Benthams Way loaded with our fastest, strongest, highest, elite athletes from Years 7 to 9 and a few dedicated Year 10 girls who had negotiated with their work experience placements to miss a day’s work to represent the school for the last time in the Athletics Championships. There was a change of venue this year which was really exciting for us all as we moved from Wavertree Stadium in South Liverpool to the newer, more up to date facility at Robin Park Sports Arena in Wigan. After lots of competition to be one of the select few from each year group to make it onto the Girls’ Athletics Squad, we were confident we had our best athletes who would give us the best possible chance of staying in Division 2 without the fear of being relegated to Division 3 next year. We feel that Division 2 is the best challenge for our girls as we often win lots of the events but we are in the majority competing against other girls who represent their school and practise using the school’s athletics facilities. Almost all the schools in Division 1 have girls who will compete for Athletics Clubs at weekends and evenings or they are the private schools that have the facilities and equipment we could only wish for! Walking into the stadium was mind-blowing for our Year 7’s, many of whom had never been in a ‘proper’ Athletics stadium before or ran on a tartan track like they’d seen on the TV. After a busy day of competing in the day’s list of events – 100m, 200m, 800m, 1500m, Javelin, Discus, Shot Putt, High Jump, Long Jump and 4x100m relay – it was fantastic to see a lot of our girls in the stands awaiting the final results with a medal around their neck. Special mentions for the girls in each team who won a gold medal for 1st place, and those that just missed out by coming 2nd or 3rd in their event:

Y7 - WINNERS - Chloe Murphy: Shot Putt

2nd Place - Ellie Ferguson: 100m, Megan Ferguson: 200m,

Emma Cliffe: 1500m, Ella Tobin: High Jump and Lauren Morris: Javelin

3rd Place - Ella Tobin: 800m

Y8 - WINNERS - Maisie Johnson: 100m, Julia Lucsiewicz: Discus

Y9 - 3rd Place - Stevie Aubrey: Long Jump, Jessica Murray: Javelin,

Olivia Jones: Discus

Y10 - WINNERS - Caitlin Macbeth: 100m & 200m, Elie Dewsbury 1500m, Catalina Tapia: Javelin

2nd Place - Ellie Dewsbury: 400m

3rd Place - Molly Barton: 800m, Paige Hurst: Shot Putt, 4x100m Relay Team

Overall, when all results from our Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 teams were added together and calculated, we finished fourth on the day in the girls’ competition out of 8 schools. Congratulations girls for finishing in the top half of the table after an amazing Athletics season. Let’s aim for third place next year!

Mrs Summers White

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