Pymble Ladies College and Trinity Grammar School dominate NSW Schools Challenge

27 October 2022

Pymble Ladies College and Trinity Grammar School dominate NSW Schools Challenge

The Schools Challenge, previously known as the Schools Knockout or Nitro, was back on the program in 2022 with thrilling competitions going down to the wire in many divisions yesterday at Sydney Olympic Park. Trinity Grammar totally dominated the three boy’s divisions, claiming all titles, while Pymble Ladies College won two of the women’s, with Stella Maris College winning the third – the juniors.

In addition to prestigious as the winning school, the top two teams in the three divisions (Senior, Intermediate and Junior) secured automatic entry to the National final in Adelaide on Monday December 12.

SENIOR GIRLS

On paper this looked to be one of the most intriguing battles of the evening. Historically the most prolific winners, Pymble Ladies College, would be challenged by rising star Meriden School, while Endeavour Sports High were a new threat. Other teams had some individual stars, like Westfields Sports High with World U20 Championship finalist Aleks Stoilova.

Pymble would wait until the seventh event for their first win, when Sienna Bond dominated the long jump with a leap of 5.70m. Next up Liv Inkster won the 200m in 24.24 seconds – one of the performances of the day. They were bolstered with podium finishes by Tessa Newitt (1500m), Brianna Worsfold (shot), Rhedyn Wong (javelin) and a herculean effort by Gabriella Taylor, primarily a 100/200 sprinter, running two 400s and a 100m.

Meriden had two standouts in the division with Karina Bell and Ada Rand both claiming twin wins each. Karina in the javelin and high jump and Ada in the 1500m and anchoring the medley relay with an 800m leg. They were supported by a host of other stars like Alexandra Richards, Bronte Locane and Ellen Murphy.

Endeavour Sports High were off to a terrific start when Ivy Boothroyd won the 400m in 57.14. She was well supported by Tammin Lampret with podium finishes in the 100m and 200m, Jordan O’Niell second in the high jump and Mathilda Delfs who provided valuable points in the 400m, 1500m and running the 800m leg in the relay.

Going into the last event, the medley relay, one slip-up by any team would mean disaster. Pymble Ladies College placed second in the relay – sufficient to win the title with 146 points. Relay race winners Meriden, were second overall with 133 points, while Endeavour Sports High were third with 125 points.

Two other outstanding marks were 11.95 in the 100m by Aleks Stoilova and 14.60m (3kg) in the shot from Emma Polikowski (Ravenswood School).

POINTS: 1 Pymble Ladies College A 146 pts, 2 Meriden School A 133 pts, 3 Endeavour Sports High A 125 pts, 4 Westfields A 106 pts, 5 Ravenswood School For Girls 100 pts, 6 Presbyterian Ladies College 89 pts, 7 Riverside Girls High School 61 pts.

SENIOR BOYS

Trinity Grammar were unstopable winning eight of the nine events in the division. Daniel Cattana got their campaign underway with a win in the 400m in a very impressive time of 48.80. Will Moir was the backbone of the team with four podium finishes in the 100m, 200m, long jump and relay. Uniquely Finn Ramanauskas won the javelin and high jump, while in the shot put (4kg) Ben Stevens held off a strong challenge from Westfields’ Bryce Nolan 20.28m to 17.93m.

Rashid Kabba, still recovering from an injury sustained at the NSW All Schools, won the long jump with a terrific last round effort of 7.07m. He earlier placed third in the high jump. A special mention to Westfields’ Raven Pyda – one of Australia’s leading race walkers. In a real display of team spirit, he competed in the 1500m, 100m and relay.

POINTS: 1 Trinity Grammar School A 116 pts, 2 Westfields A 81 pts, 3 Trinity Grammar School B 81 pts, 4 Knox Grammar School A 70 pts, 5 Barker College A 37

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS

Incredible depth was the key for Pymble Ladies College who won the girls Intermediate division. Although winning six of the nine events, they dominated the podium. With their B team, they won the 400m and relay and achieved three trebles in the 100m, 200m and 800m. Sarah Baker was everywhere, with three titles in the 400m, 800m and relays. Samara Bond and Tilly Harrison dominated the sprints going 1-2 in the 100m and 200m and running on the successful relay.

The field program for Pymble started well with twins Sarah and Louise Lovell, controlling the shot put with Sarah hitting 11.53m for the win, with Louise in second with 10.69m, both well ahead of third place below 9 metres.

Also a performance of note was Isabel Harris (Barker College) who launched the javelin out to 40.19m for the win.

In the final scores Pymble A, defeated Pymble B with Meriden third.

POINTS: 1 Pymble Ladies College A 135 pts, 2 Pymble Ladies College B 109 pts, 3 Meriden School 95 pts, 4 Stella Maris College 83 pts, 5 Hunters Hill High school 65 pts, 6 Barker College 64 pts

INTERMEDIATE BOYS

The boys Intermediate was the closest event of the evening with just three points separating first and second. Knox Grammar led Trinity Grammar by five points going into the final event – the medley relay. Knox easily won the relay, by seven seconds, but Trinity got the job done, placing second in the relay and taking the overall title 148 to 145 points. Trinity B was second.

Knox won six of the nine events, with sprint sensation Dylan Hall involved in four of those wins. He won the 100m (10.94), 200m (22.13), long jump (6.59m) and led off the relay.

But for the winners Trinity, depth across the events was the key. They had good wins in the 800m by Ben Moloney, Tom Bermingham in the javelin (44.57m) and Amosia Soatini shot put (18.11m – 4kg). For Australian under-16 shot put record holder Amosia, it was good to see him slowly returning to form after breaking a finger in a gym accident.

POINTS: 1 Trinity Grammar School A 148 pts, 2 Knox Grammar School A 145 pts, 3 Trinity Grammar School B 121 pts, 4 Westfields 112 pts, 5 St Aloysius College 107 pts, 6 Trinity Grammar School C 79 pts, 7 Barker College A 58 pts.

JUNIOR GIRLS

It was terrific to see 13 teams participate in the junior girls division. It was a close battle, but a safe result by Stella Maris College in the final event, would see them take home the winner’s cup. They went even better winning the final event, the 4x200m relay, to clinch the title with 206 points. In second, prior to the relay, Meriden also needed a safe finish and they did with second in the relay and second overall with 189 points. There was a terrific battled for the third place with Presbyterian Ladies College holding a one-point lead over Pymble Ladies College before the relay. Presbyterian LC made sure of the third place with a strong relay result, while Pymble slipped four points behind, but still placed fourth overall.

There were a number of stars across the track and field for Stella Maris, with sprinter Elli Enlund placing second in the 100m and 200m. Also claiming a second place was Phillipa Quarrell in the 800m and Elisabeth Pulis was third in the shot put. Elli and Phillipa were on the winning relay team.

Meriden were served well with wins from Rekha Levine (200m and long jump) and Olivia Achike (100m). One of the best performances was by Milly Gage of Presbyterian Ladies College, clocking 2:14.53 to win the girl’s 800m. Best for Pymble was Grace Peters winning the shot with 11.77m.

POINTS 1 Stella Maris College A 206 pts, 2 Meriden School A 189 pts, 3 Presbyterian Ladies Colle 181 pts, 4 Pymble Ladies College A 177 pts, 5 Ravenswood School For Girls 176 pts, 6 Westfields Sports High A 166, 7 Endeavour Sports High A 162 pts, 8 Riverside Girls High 153 pts, 9 Pymble Ladies College B 128 pts, 9 Barker College A 128 pts, 11 Ravenswood School For Girls 120 pts, 12 Riverside Girls High 110 pts, 13 Meriden School B 91 pts.

JUNIOR BOYS

Trinity Grammar completely dominated the Junior boys competition placing first, second, seventh and nineth. In the end it was a close battle between their A and B teams with just 7 points the margin, while St Aloysius College were in third.

Trinity’s Jozef Cluff claimed a double with wins in the long jump (5.41m) and Javelin (43.05), ahead of running on the winning 4x200m relay. Also for Trinity were terrific winning performances from shot putter Cody Ramanauskas (13.08m) and Kobe Stewart in the 800m, clocking 2:13.31.

Westfields Sports High’s Jayden Todoroski was brilliant winning the 100m (11.92) and 200m in 24.17 – by over a second.

POINTS: 1 Trinity Grammar School A 143 pts, 2 Trinity Grammar School B 136 pts, 3 St Aloysius College 121 pts, 4 Westfields Sports High 108 pts, 5 Barker College 107 pts, 6 Epping Boys High 97 pts, 7 Trinity Grammar School C 96 pts, 8 Knox Grammar School 86 pts, 9 Trinity Grammar School D 67 pts

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Pymble Ladies college 800m athletes