Oxford strike FEAR into the Tabs
Oxford’s Toleme Ezekiel fights to hold off a closing Tab
Despite depleted teams and the imposition of that general ‘eighth week feeling’, the Dark Blue athletes braved the cold winds at Wilberforce Road in Cambridge and were rewarded with a stash of trophies to add to their increasing collection.
Leaving at the crack of dawn on the last Sunday of Hilary, Oxford University Athletics Club headed to the ‘other’ side for the annual Field Events and Relays competition, managing to put in an array of good performances against a very strong Cambridge team and leaving the overall standings at two all. The only disappointment of the day was to lose out in the men’s track event. After last year’s landslide victory to Oxford, the Tabs succeeded in turning the tables to win 6-1 this year.
Given the huge losses to the men’s team through illness and injury, Oxford athletes could only push forward in unfavourable conditions, with many being forced to double and even triple up. A special mention must go to the ever-versatile Sean Gourley, who not only competed in three track events, but also formed part of the more successful field events team, which crushed Cambridge 6- 2.
Gourley participated in the high jump, pole vault, long jump, discus and shot putt and, despite his exertions on the track, still managed to achieve the top distances in the long jump (6.84- just one centimetre off the Blues distance) and the pole vault (3.60).
This is highly encouraging at this early point in the season, and there is no doubt more to come from this faithful servant of OUAC, particularly with the up-and-coming outdoor BUSA Championships, where he will no doubt be looking to build on last year’s excellent sixth placing, and of course the all-important 132nd annual Varsity match. Other notable performances in the men’s field came from Stephen McCauley, who smashed the Blues distance for the shot putt with a throw of 13.
4, and was almost two metres clear of the leading Cambridge athlete. Steven Marlow opened his account impressively, posting 39.93 in the discus. Although still a few metres short of his personal best of 44.07, Marlow made a positive start to his Blues campaign, and even managed to achieve the furthest distance out of both the Oxford and Cambridge teams.
With an influx of talented female freshers to add to what is already a strong distance squad, there were high hopes for the women’s track team • and they did not disappoint. OUAC cruised to a 5-1 victory, and such is the strength of this year’s team that Oxford even set a new record in the medley event (600 x 1600 x 1200 x 800, in a time of 13:16.3) thanks to the efforts of Lizi Brathwaite, Courtney Birch, Rachel Ward and Sarah Pemberton, respectively.
Brathwaite, who had recently just won individual silver in the 800m at Indoor BUSA, also helped the Dark Blues win the 4x400 event, which saw Oxford literally run away with the victory, beating the opposition by sixteen seconds.
A mixture of old and new proved a lethal combination in the sprint relays, in which club veterans Katie Sam and Martine Bomb teamed up with first years Natalie McManus, Steph Madgett and Frances Smithson to hold off the strong challenge from Cambridge in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Another versatile athlete, Smithson has showed tremendous promise this year, and the best looks yet to come in time for the 4th week Varsity showdown in Trinity.
Following on from her excellent 6th place in the Indoor BUSA Championships, she once more smashed the Blues standard to lead the Oxford Triple Jump team, with a jump of 11.36m. Smithson also came out top dark blue in the long jump (5.35m), and took second scorer in the high jump behind Ailsa Wallace, another BUSA Indoor Silver medallist, who cleared 1.67m.
Oxford’s Sean Gourley, who shone in two other track events, clears a hurdle
Unfortunately, this was not enough for the women to beat the Tabs on the field, losing out 5-3, but remarkable progress since last year was evident. Cambridge have always been favourites to win against Oxford in the field events in recent years, largely thanks to the presence of Phyllis Agbo, a GB international heptathlete.
Although Agbo ensured that this remained the same once more, the losing margins were sure signs that the Tabs need to start worrying about retaining their Varsity title this year. With the Varsity clash on the near horizon, Oxford’s performances here were encouraging. But this traditional summer meeting between the two old universities is not the only competition on the Dark Blue athletics calendar.
The first week of term heralds the BUSA Track and Field Championships, which will be held in Birmingham. Those competing will have spent their Easter vacation training up for this highprofile event, and is likely to unite competitors from across the country. This will certainly be a chance for the Oxford competitors to prove themselves on the big stage and against some of the very best athletes in the land.
The Oxon County Championships takes place two weeks later, and will be an opportunity for the University to gauge itself against a talented crop of Oxfordshire athletes, and falling at an ideal time of preparation, just one week before Varsity. On the FEAR event, women’s captain and club President Martine Bomb said: “I’m so proud of everyone. The Oxford teams showed tremendous Dark Blue spirit, particularly in the face of those negative factors affecting our team numbers.Everyone really gave it their all. I can’t wait for the summer!”
20th Apr 2006