King’s crowned at Athletics Cuppers

Catz take the women’s competition as optimistic predictions are made for Freshers Varsity

by Lucy Spray

Friday October 23 2009, 2:13pm

Updated: Monday October 26 2009, 9:17pm

A sunny if blustery Wilberforce Road was again the place to be for the University’s sportspeople to attempt to win the first bit of College silverware of the academic year. In two closely fought competitions some "athletes" were complete beginners at the event, whilst for many, this day was a chance to stake a claim for the upcoming "Freshers’ Varsity".

The respective men’s and women’s Blues captains would have been pleased with the turn-out on what was the first occasion the programme had been condensed to a single day. It seemed that the ease with which college captains could gather their teams together in the new format allowed greater talent to shine.

Decathlete Josh Mouland, the King’s captain, provided the day’s outstanding performance, so it was no surprise to see his team finish in first position. Following close behind were Selwyn, who also boasted a decathlete, Ed Moyse, adding a personal aspect to the day’s competition and showing that versatility can be equally as useful as excellence in this format. The would-be gold medal was his in the discus and 100m, and he claimed "silver" in the long jump, 110m hurdles and shot put.

Mouland’s exemplary hurdling display in the sprint was one of the highlights of the day, but he also achieved points in the high jump and pole vault amongst others. Supported by team-mate Nate Sharpe, who won the pole vault with a Blues-standard jump as well as competing in the 100m, 200m, 200m hurdles and long jump, it was almost inevitable that King’s would reign.

Last year’s champions St Catharine’s faced a strong challenge to their title from women’s Blues captain Kate Laidlow’s strong Jesus team. Yet it was not to be, Laidlow herself took the 100m crown but St Catharine’s the Cuppers title.

However, whilst only two Colleges were ever in the mix, promise was shown across the board. A competitive 800m which ended in victory for Emma’s Rose Penfold in a time of 2.24.0 demonstrated that CUAC women will have a selection headache for all the right reasons in the middle distance events. Rachel Kitchen and Grace Geilinger, both of whom narrowly missed out on half-Blue standard, pushed each other hard in the 1500m, whilst the steeplechase of the same distance was claimed by returning Blue Polly Keen.

Keen’s team-mate Clare Palmer too claimed victory - in the discus with yet another Blues-standard throw, and Laura Duke also reached this standard in winning the hammer. Yet it was the men’s hammer where one of the surprises was to be had. Fitz’s John Garrity, a Goldie rower, launched a solid throw of 34.50 to destroy the competition, though he could not transfer his talents to the javelin as Ray Malekout of Selwyn edged out the rest of the field.

An expected pattern of victories for Blues athletes offset by some surprising new figures winning events began to emerge, but the quantity of Blues-standard performances was exceptional considering the time of year. To have so many Cambridge athletes at that level already will have Oxford literally quivering in their spikes.

However, what really concerns captains and fans alike is the fresher-count. On Sunday, Christian Roberts (200m hurdles winner), Alex Jackson (winner of the high jump and second place in the javelin and triple jump), and Ismail Akram, whose impressive 12.68 took the triple jump, showed themselves as ones to watch for the men’s team.

For the women, Lizzie Thompson impressed in claiming the 100m hurdles and triple, despite being a 400m hurdle specialist. Amanda Smolinsky proved herself a talented fresher with a win in the pole vault and third place in the high jump, whilst Nicki Moss had a good run in the 100m finishing just behind Laidlow and establishing herself as a valuable member of the women’s sprint squad for the year ahead.

Confident predictions were made by both men and women’s captains. All that remains to be seen is if the Cuppers champions can take the intense pressure of Varsity Athletics.

Results: Men

King’s: 171 (points)
Selwyn: 164
Peterhouse: 118
Clare: 107
Queens: 95

Results: Women

St Catharine’s: 164
Jesus: 141
Peterhouse: 78
Fitzwilliam: 72
Selwyn: 67

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