Over 60 students represented The Wilnecote School at the recent Tamworth District Athletics Championships. Athletes who achieve the top two positions in their age group events then go onto represent Tamworth at the Staffordshire Schools Athletics Finals. With all 5 high schools attending the standard is high and each event is very competitively fought. 

For our year 7’s it was their first event of this scale, making many of them extremely nervous. Students in the older years were quick to share their past experience and supported them by leading the warm-up and helping them get to their first events. 

 

 With a crowded stadium, the atmosphere grew throughout the afternoon, with the track athlete’s enjoying hearing the crowds cheering in support and clapping each and every athlete crossing the line. 

Students competing in the field events stepped up and took part in events like the Long Jump, Javelin, Shot Putt and High Jump. It is amazing to see the standards our students reach in these events, which are not their normal comfortable sporting events. As students took part they found their determination by using the performances of others to motivate them and achieve their best. 

Once all the field competitions had been completed everyone’s eyes were on the track as the relay teams made their way to their starting positions. Each race was completed with every student from each of the schools shouting and screaming for their team. 

You could argue that the relay is perhaps the only real “team” event of an athletics meet, yet teamwork was evident from the moment The Wilnecote School athletes left school. Older students chatting away with younger students, leading a team warm up, year group captains and vice captains ensuring that everyone knew their event times and where to go, reminding each other of the time and ensuring they made the start of the event prepared and ready to their best. This is when The Wilnecote School pupils really excel, as a team, working together which gives them the confidence to strive to reach their potential even when the pressure is on. 

Well done to all athletes who represented The Wilnecote School… you did yourselves proud! 

 

For a phenomenal 16 of our students, their best was enough to be selected to represent Tamworth; now they will take on the very best athletes in Staffordshire, and a chance to challenge themselves further than they have done before. Few people get this opportunity – We hope that they will wear the Tamworth District athletics vest with pride.