Superstars Jesus clinch Cuppers crown
After three years of dominance at the annual Athletics Cuppers event, Trinity’s stranglehold on the competition was taken by Jesus College, who convincingly took the title with a total of 889 points. Team captains Tom Stevens and Ailsa Wallace did a fantastic job of motivating their colossal team • seemingly the entire college. Team spirit was certainly a key ingredient in an event enjoyed by all, whatever their ability.
The day’s rain did not hold off as hoped, which made competing in the earlier events a less than pleasant affair. However, this did little to deflate the atmosphere at the Iffley Road Track, which also saw the arrival of most of the Blues squad who were using the event as a Varsity selection trial. The athletes relished the challenge presented by the elements, with new personal bests being set in almost every event.
Oriel’s Hannah Hogben got off to a fantastic start, recording a new personal best in the Discus of 32.11m, and then taking second place in the Shot Putt behind fellow Blues athlete Rota Vavilova, who also won the Javelin. Over in the long jump pit, Magdalen’s Johnny Lowe took the title with a new PB, jumping 6.23m, with OUAC Men’s Captain Jon Buckler in second place with a PB of 6.02m.
Frances Smithson continued her run of victories by winning the women’s event, also triumphing in the Triple Jump and finishing second in the High Jump behind Jesus College’s star field competitor and BUSA bronze medallist, Ailsa Wallace. First off in the 800m were the women, in what looked set to be an excellent race between 400m Blue Katie Sam (Wadham), 800m specialists Zoe Barber and Eve Bugler, and cross country specialist Laura Kyte of Trinity.
The race came down to a sprint finish between Kyte and Sam, and both athletes managed PBs, as Sam edged away in the final stages to win with a time of 2.21.8. Wadham’s Ben Moreau claimed victory in the men’s 800m in a time of 1.59, before cruising to an easy victory in the 1500m. Excitement was not limited to the sprint, however. The women’s 5000m event proved to be a thriller, as Blues Cross-Country representative Lucia Gibson of Worcester edged Merton’s Cathy Ansell for victory.
The pair pulled away, neck and neck until the final 200 metres, where Gibson sprinted ahead to win in 18.13.6, with Ansell exactly two seconds behind in 18.15.6. In the men’s 5000m competition, former OUAC President Fraser Thompson put in a gutsy performance, crossing the line a full 40 seconds clear of second place. Thompson also won the 3000m Steeplechase convincingly ahead of Dave Bruce (LMH) and Martin Bishop (New), finishing in 9.21, six seconds into the full Blues time.
It was also a good day for St Edmund Hall sprinter Natalie McManus, as she took first in all sprint disciplines, clocking 13s dead in the 100m, 26.8s in the 200m—both inside the Half Blue standards—and 62.7s in her less-preferred 400m. As per usual, the day closed with the relay events, which saw Teddy Hall and Trinity desperately trying to catch Jesus, who by this point were almost guaranteed overall victory.
In a competition that saw some outstanding individual performances, the essence of Cuppers, as proven, still lies in team spirit and being prepared to have a go at anything—all in the name of college pride. Special thanks must go to Lizi Brathwaite and Steven Marlow who were in charge of organising the competition, and to all the officials who gave up their time so willingly.
11th May 2006