Varsity Victory
Last Saturday the Oxford University Athletics Men's Blues team, led by OUAC president Michael Rush, extended their unbeaten run in the Varsity Match to an impressive six straight victories. In a tense and action packed day of athletics, it was only the Men's Blues, however, who ended the day victorious with the Women's Blues and Seconds and Men's Seconds being defeated in close and hard fought struggles.
Varsity Athletics
In the Women's Blues match, the result went to the wire. With only three events in the day left, Oxford were ahead by 3 points, unfortunately the match slipped away. Nevertheless, this failed to overshadow the performances of women's captain Helen Edmundson Burns who destroyed the tabs in the 100m, running a personal best and Blues time in 12.2 seconds.
Helen was awarded the Achilles Trophy for outstanding contribution to university athletics, while Jenny Duff (women's captain in 2002) won the Susan Dennler trophy for best performance in the women's match - winning the Hammer, Discus and Shot. Hannah Barnes also jumped a personal best to win the pole vault.
With three events left and 15 points clear the men eased to vicotry. Chris Sleeman had a fantastic day of racing in his final varsity match with a win in a photo finish 400m hurdles race against current Varsity match record holder Steve Green. Sleeman also won the flat 400m and came second in the 200m hurdles. Gourley made a significant impression in his debut Varsity Match, achieving the Blues distance in the long jump - the only athlete on the day to surpass 7 metres. This was followed up by 1st in the Pole vault, 2nd in the high jump and 2nd in the 110m hurdles behind fellow Oxford debut runner Baderin.
The Oxford men also reclaimed their historical dominance of the middle distance races as Thompson, fresh from taking double gold in the 5000m and 10000m at BUSA, stamped his authority on the 1500m and 5000m. Not only did Fraser lap the field in the 5000m, but also ran the Blues time. Talbot completed his final varsity match by winning the 3000m steeplechase for the 5th year running, with Oxford's Aldridge coming in second.
22nd May 2003