A local high school’s report on its sports day was written by two of its pupils, and one of them is a former Vale of York athlete. Merryn co-wrote it with a classmate. Three of the athletes are Vale of York.
Isaac stepped in, and won
He had already run his 800m when an older competitor failed to show and a house was about to lose the point. He put his hand up.
This isn’t my strongest event. I only did it because someone didn’t show up. I was a bit scared to go against the older ones, but I’m really happy with what I did.
He won it.
We talk about four pillars in our coaching, and the fourth one is community: teamwork, persistence, and giving back. It is the hardest of the four to teach and the easiest to spot when somebody has it. A younger pupil volunteering into an older age group’s race so that somebody else’s team does not go a point down is exactly the thing.
Amelia took the 300m record
Four school records went that afternoon, and one of them was Amelia’s. She ran 54.49 for the girls’ 300m, and was clear afterwards about where her real event lies.
I was a bit nervous to do it, but confident going in. The best part was probably the finish, but my best event is 200m.
Niamh and the John Darley trophy
Niamh took home the John Darley memorial trophy for girls’ outstanding sporting achievement. It is the award the school gives once a year, to one girl, for exactly what it says.
And the reporter
It is a good sign when a club’s former athletes turn up on the other side of the story. Merryn was one of ours, and she has written a generous and well observed piece: she gives as much space to a younger pupil who did not finish her race as she does to the records.
Sports day was Tuesday 7 July 2026. Well done all three of you.
