The 2021 season got off to a shaky and unfit start and, as usual, athletics was up against the girls’ commitments to tennis, water polo, rowing, squash, equestrian, diving and, a major added extra for this year, in JHL hockey. We gave of our best at weekly meetings but our relay transitions were poor. Having said this, the relays are never 100% finalised before inter-high. Coach Cobus Kruger and Jeanette Rambuda patiently, and Ms Quix, not so patiently, kept working with the team, inspiring confidence, tweaking run-ups, improving techniques and oiling the relay take-overs.

The team setoff for inter-high on Wednesday 20 October, nervous but determined and, from the first jump, we never looked back. Although we won 25 out of 46 events, it was our depth that was impressive. Despite not winning all the sprint events, we won three out of four relays.

Congratulations are extended to Jasmin Vermeulen who broke the U16A 400m record in a time of 59,59 seconds and the U16 relay team of Isabelle Barrow, Jasmin Vermeulen, Sofia Bollo and Serena Wolfenden who broke the U16 4 x100m record set by St Mary’s in 2010, with a time of 51,69 seconds.

Credit must go to the 2021 captains, Ella Babaya and Holly-Rose Brady who lead the team by example and played an important role in the countdown to the big day. It was a great honour for them to collect the trophy that we won for 13th time in 14 years. In 2020, we were unable to compete owing to Covid-19.

Final points for the day
6th Kingsmead 187 (they were missing an entire grade that was away on journey)
5th Holy Rosary 245
4th Assumption Convent 280
3rd Jeppe 300
2nd St Andrew’s 321
1st St Mary’s 422

QUIX
DIRECTOR OF SPORT