Banbridge Academy’s Athletics season got off to a great start at the Co Down Track & Field Championships held over 3 days at the Mary Peters track.

The star performance of the day was a thrilling Gold Medal for Bethany Nixon in the Inter Girls’ 3000m. Bethany stormed into the lead from the start and continued to up the pace throughout to dominate the field and set a new PB and District record. In the same event, Ruby McNiff also ran very strongly and saw off all opposition to finish in the Silver Medal position. In the Senior Girls’ triple jump, Emily Cantley jumped well to set a new school record and claim Bronze, while in the 800m she ran very well to claim Silver.

In the Inter Boys’ Ben Bradshaw threw a PB to finish in the Silver Medal slot in the Javelin. Also in the Inter Boys’ 800m, Marcus McNeill won Bronze with a storming finish, smashing the school record by some 12 seconds in the process. Molly Mathers finished a creditable 4^th in the 100m and Nadia Radcliffe and Lucy Bradshaw set new Year 11 and Year 12 school records respectively in the 1500m.

The juniors competed on a separate day again with great success. In the Junior Boys’ 1500m, Simon Ferris showed great pace to win Silver after a hard fought race. In the Mini Boys’ competition, Ryan Hanna excelled finishing 2^nd in the Shot Putt and 3^rd in the 100m race to medal in both. In the Junior Girls’, Natalie Hale finished in the Bronze Medal slot in both the 100m and the Discus. Carolyn Grossman threw really well in the Junior Girls’ shot Putt to win the Silver medal and last but not least, Clara Cunningham claimed a Silver medal in the Mini Girls’ High Jump. Clara Jumped 1.37m to claim Silver and a new school record in the process.

The Academy had some 35 athletes competing across the three days and we say well done to all of them. The medallists now go forward to compete in the Ulster Championships at the Antrim Forum on Friday 17 & Saturday 18 May.