On Wednesday 19 August we held the inaugural Somerset College Invitational Athletics Meet at our home athletics facility. It was a very enjoyable day of athletics competition with seven of the APS schools in attendance, as well as Varsity College and Palm Beach Currumbin.

Although it was a ‘friendly’ there was some hotly contested competition with some very impressive performances produced by many of the athletes from all the schools.

With a modified programme and a total of 114 Events held on the day it certainly was a great opportunity for all of the athletes who have been training so well through the Covid-19 period to showcase their talents and achieve some outstanding results after their hard work. At Somerset College we have had over 300+ students attend training and vying for a place on the school athletics team over the past few months.

To highlight some of the outstanding performances on the day the following athletes from Somerset College placed First in these individual events for a total of 21 Wins.

  • Jake Giltrap-Good 14yrs Boys 1500m (4.23min)
  • Starr Scott 16yrs Girls 1500m (4.45min)
  • Nicholas Tan 17-19yrs Boys 1500m (4.34min)
  • Thomas Batho 13yrs Boys 90mH (15.80sec)
  • Jake Iles 14yrs Boys 100mH (15.73sec)
  • Kade Reynoldson 15yrs Boys 100mH (15.38sec), 100m (11.75sec)
  • Jessica Velloza 16yrs Girls 100mH (16.37sec)
  • Brayden Miles 16yrs Boys 110mH (17.00sec)
  • Britney Ingr 15yrs Girls 100m (12.08sec), 400m (59.55sec), Long Jump (5.52m)
  • Prosper Nwoko 17-19yrs Boys 100m (11.05sec), Shot Put (13.94m)
  • Mia Richards 13yrs Girls 400m (1.03min)
  • Ethan Carson 13yrs Boys Shot Put (11.21m)
  • William Baker 15yrs Boys Discus (43.47m)
  • James Thompson 16yrs Boys Long Jump (5.56m)
  • Felix Jackson-King 17 to19yrs Boys Long Jump (6.00m)
  • Georgia Daly 15yrs Girls High Jump (1.38m)
  • Somerset College Mixed 15yrs 4x100m Relay (48.58sec)
  • Somerset College Mixed 16yrs Relay (48.30sec)
  • *These are now ALL Invitational Records as it is our inaugural meet!

Some outstanding results produced, and these were complemented by the number of quality events several of our Spartans competed in to achieve Age Champion Top 3 places. These athletes were:

  • Jake Iles – 14yrs Boys (1st)
  • Kade Reynoldson – 15yrs Boys (1st)
  • Kye Reynoldson – 16yrs Boys (1st)
  • Felix Jackson-King – 17-19yrs Boys (1st)
  • Ethan Carson – 13yrs Boys (2nd)
  • Atlanta Horan – 15yrs Girls (2nd)
  • Rhea Dawson – 14yrs Girls (3rd)
  • Stephanie Sprague – 17-19yrs Girls (3rd)


The key to a successful athletics team is our athlete’s ability to compete in several events to a high standard. Very similar to having a couple of Decathletes and Heptathletes in each age group. Fortunately for Somerset College we have some outstanding coaching staff in the various event groups to help achieve these results, and I would like to thank them all for their hard work throughout the (very disrupted) athletics season this year. Phil Newton (Jumps); Jenny Wood, Jess Hughes and Hamish Boyd (Throws); Murray Goodwin and Scott Walsh (Sprints); Harry McMaster (All events); Howard Arbuthnot (Pole Vault) and Leah Simpson (Distance). A big thank you to all of you!

A huge thank you to all our amazing athletes who participated on the day, attended so many of the training sessions and supported their team-mates throughout the school athletics season. All the coaches’ love working with you to be your best and we look forward to the upcoming Queensland Schools Athletics Championships in October and the Summer Club Athletics season which will run through until April in 2021.

Thank you also to all the parents and caregivers who have really supported the athletics programme this year and I, as Head Coach of Spartan Athletics and Cross Country, am certainly looking for forward to seeing what the future of athletics at Somerset College holds. Without those early morning drop-off and late pick ups we would not have the quality team that we do!

Finally, to all the Somerset College staff who assisted on the day of competition and the set up in the days preceding a big thank you. Thank you to our Director of Sport, our Dean of Activities and our Headmaster, Mr Craig Bassingthwaighte for giving their full support to make this event happen in the absence of the APS Athletics Carnival in 2020. A fantastic day had by all!

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