9th May 2012

School Games 2012 Athletes Assemble At Olympic Park

9 May 2012

The Sainsbury’s School Games Athletics Competition debuted in the stage of heroes today, the fantastic Olympic Stadium in a regenerated Olympic Park, and is one of the last events to be held on the park before the main event this summer. The eight UK based teams assembled with opportunities to settle old scores over their rivals and avenge previous results.

Team South West struck early on in the competition with victory in the boys 100m, with Taunton’s Ronnie Wells crossing the line in a time of 10.84secs, the Olympic Stadium has already built a reputation as a fast track early on, and this was further proven through Wells’ personal best into a head wind. Second place when to Jack Lawrence of Team Midlands, in a time of 10.96, with Reuben Arthur of Team South East in third, with a time of 11.09.  

Furthermore, in an event that the South West have dominated in recent incarnations of the event, it was Clare Dyer who cleared the girls pole vault height at the highest mark, with a best jump of 3.35m (on count back), with Jenny Robbins of Team Midlands in second and Ailis McGovern of Team South East in third.

The Celtic Nations were represented in the medals later in the morning, with Mhairi Patience taking the gold in the girls’ 80m hurdles race. The Victoria Park City of Glasgow athlete ensured a winning performance with a time of 11.69secs, North East’s Maria Hollingsworth was close in second, 11.77secs, with Team North West’s Marnie Wells Nicholls making sure it was a Northern 1-2-3, with a time of 12.04secs. 

GB international Jade Jones brought gold home for Team North East in the wheelchair girls 200m event, the T54 athlete crossed the line in 33.03, which converted to a winning points score of 604, second was Scotland’s Meggan Dawson Farrell, with a time of 36.25secs (431 points), with Team South West’s Vicki Bell in third with a time of 50.38secs (160 points).

One of the highlights of the event on the track was the girls 100m race, a fantastic race that culminating in victory for Team South East, with Daryll Neita crossing the line with a time of 11.91secs, with Team North East’s Kristie Edwards was hot on her heels with a time of 11.94secs, and Wales’ Shannon Malone just 600th of a second behind, in third.

Neita’s win was part of a host of top three placings for Team South East which culminated in their team victory.  A great team was assembled and collectively rose above the competition to take the School Games 2012 top team prize. Memories were made, dreams were realised and potential came to the fore, all in a venue that will create many more special and enduring memories in the near future.

For full competition results please click here