Athletics

from Grammarian 2022

Staff Notes

2022 saw the return of the AGSV Athletics season after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions. Excitingly, it also presented the AGSV with an opportunity to showcase Athletics with a Centenary event, celebrating the 100th running of the Athletics Carnival. In 1920, Camberwell Grammar took out the inaugural event of the then AGSV, defeating Caufield Grammar amongst other Independent schools of the day.

A four-week training and trials program was well attended by a large number of Camberwell Grammar athletes, all keen to take advantage of track and field opportunities. It was exciting to see the rapid improvement of many athletes, indeed this was crucial in many of the technical events such as High Jump and the relays.

Heading to the day of the finals at Lakeside Stadium, on Saturday 3 September, the team was buoyed by strong performances in the Elimination events but also aware of many strong athletes from other schools that had been seen at the trial events.

In Under 13, Henson Chen was the star of the day, surprising everyone (including the commentators) with a late surge to win his 800m event in an emphatic fashion. Henson then backed up to win bronze in the 100m and 400m, before anchoring his U13 4x100m team to a crucial silver medal in the relay. He was deservedly named the best Camberwell Grammar U13 athlete on the day. Jayden Weng ran well in his 200m event to collect bronze, whilst Samuel Page jumped an impressive 1.40m in his High Jump.

In Under 14, Joshua Tallis and Harvey Williams were outstanding. Joshua was exceptionally strong in the last 50m of both his 200m and 400m events, winning both in convincing fashion. Harvey was narrowly beaten in the 800m but bounced back to win the 1500m, where he teamed with Ben Nation to win the bronze medal in the team event. Joel Stambanis continued Camberwell Grammar’s exciting day at the High Jump, winning bronze with a jump of 1.45m.

The Under 15 group were the most successful, collecting medals in 10 of the 12 events: 7 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze. Joshua Carlin (distance), Kensei Soegijono (sprints) and Shen Rong (jumps/sprints) were outstanding, as was newcomer Henry Segal, whose blistering 400m race was arguably the performance of the day.

In Under 16, Zac Matters toiled hard all day in his four individual events and was rewarded with bronze in his 100m hurdles. Jack Zhang collected bronze in his 100m and teamed with Mitchell Graham, Simon Gao, and Victor Shao to win silver in the 4x100m relay. The newly formed combination of Daniel Chen and Will Aldred worked beautifully together to win gold in their 1500m team event.

In Under 17, Sebastian Beck was outstanding, convincingly winning his 100m and 200m and anchoring the relay team of Harry Clarke, Lachlan Lewis, and Ewan Lewis to silver in their 4x100m event. Joshua Blew was part of the successful open 4x400m team and then fought hard in his individual 400m and 800m races. Finally, Harrison Car shouldered a heavy day of competition, winning bronze in his 3000m individual events (against a field of 27, majoritarily, Year 11 and 12 runners), anchored the Open 4x800m team to silver, and also collected bronze in his U17 1500m event.

In the Open category, the 4x400 m relay consisting of Benny Grayson (Captain), Lachlan Ross (Vice Captain), Benjamin Carlisle, and Joshua Blew opened the day’s proceedings, finishing a strong second.

Caleb Finlayson fought valiantly in his individual events, securing bronze in his 110m hurdles and narrowly missing a medal in the 100m sprint. Jack Dobbyn and Henry Shirrefs teamed with Harrison Car to win the 3000m team event and Ed Harper was an agonising 0.01s from earning bronze in the individual 800m, but bounced back to team with Hayden Newman, Harrison Car, and Joshua Carlin to clinch bronze in the 4x800m. Akalanka Gunawardana concluded a decorated Camberwell Grammar Athletics career with silver in the Triple Jump, and Charles Robertson’s equal 3rd in High Jump earned crucial further points. Finally, it came down to the Open 4x100m event, the last event of the carnival. After earning silver in the 400m and teaming with Lachlan Ross and Benjamin Carlise in the 4x400m squad, Captain Benny Grayson found himself on the starting line with junior Athletics teammates Caleb Finlayson, Lachlan Ross, and Hugo Akse. Fittingly, the quartet held on for silver, earning 8 points and allowing Camberwell Grammar to leap ahead of Ivanhoe to secure the Premiership. After winning the first, Camberwell Grammar had won the 100th.

Congratulations to all those involved: Mr Craig Mottram and his coaching staff, the Camberwell Grammar Sport Department, Mr Paul Young, Mr Ian Wilmoth, and Mr Roger Devine, parents, and all those in the squad – finals’ team members, reserves, and those who participated in training and trials. We can’t wait to see you back in 2023.