Last Saturday underlined athletics’ claim to be Cambridge’s most successful Blues sport after the Men’s Blues team extended their winning streak to a 5th successive year.

Victory for the Women’s Blues was a similarly strong performance, and comfortable margins of victory for both the Second teams (Alverstones and Alligators) ended a perfect day at Wilberforce Road. With vocal Cambridge supporters surrounding the busy track and glimmers of sunshine highlighting the Blues’ white vests, the teams stepped out after a year of intense training, ready to do battle.

The morning’s athletics failed to provide a clear leader, with both Oxford and Cambridge trading event wins. The tension was palpable; although athletics is typically an individual sport, in the Varsity Match only one result matters- that of the team. Seeing friends and team mates producing their best performances can dramatically improve your own.

As the early momentum swung between the two universities, one race was pivotal in ensuring the trophies were ultimately held aloft by Light Blue hands; John Cook’s success in the 1500m. John, who was intending to miss his final Varsity match after an international call-up for the following day, selflessly stepped into the team at the last minute and powerfully won with a final lap display of speed.

Overall Cambridge’s middle and long distance performances were heroic. 12 wins out of a possible 16 across all the teams demonstrated CUAC and CUH&H’s strength in depth and ability to deliver results under immense pressure.

The sprints were another area of Cambridge superiority. With the closure of the ‘Mark Dyble era’ (winner of the 100m in the previous 4 Varsity matches) a new sprint sensation needed to be found; Tom Neill was CUAC’s answer. Powerful finishes in both the 100m (10.84s) and 200m (22.19s) saw him collect two winners’ medals, with men’s captain Ross Elsby ensuring maximum points in second place. Perhaps Tom’s greatest achievement was salvaging victory on the final leg of the 4x100m relay after chasing down a sizeable Oxford lead.

In the women’s sprints, each of the 100m, 200m and 400m were dominated by the Alice Kaye vs Nadine Prill duel. It was Oxford’s Prill who came out on top, replicating her achievements from 2012 with a brilliant ‘Bolt-like’ double treble. 

In the field the outgoing CUAC president Matt Houlden led by example with two wins, jumping a windy 7.07m in the Long Jump and 14.68m in the Triple Jump. He also picked up valuable points in the 200m Hurdles, High Jump, and was a part of the victorious 4x100m relay team. As expected, the pole vault squad demonstrated their superiority, collecting wins in all 4 matches and 3 second places.

The women’s field events were dominated by BUCS champion Emma Perkins who collected wins in the Long, Triple and High Jumps. This brings her total tally of victories to 14, putting her second on the all-time list for most wins in the Varsity Match. Cambridge’s other BUCS medallist available, Alison Greggor, underlined her ability with a superb 1500m and 5000m long distance double.

Throws were evenly matched, with wins for both sides. Former men’s captain Ryan Harper won the men’s Hammer, and Toby Haseler his 3rdconsecutive Varsity Match Shot Put medal.

The seconds’ matches were more comfortable victories, demonstrating CUAC’s strength in depth across all events. The Alverstones won for a 7thstraight year and the Alligators succeeded in avenging last year’s narrow loss.

Credit must be given to Oxford. With a number of great freshers they have shown improvement since last year and notably collected all but 2 of the day’s 8 relay events. Their 400m team remains very strong, with 1-2 finishes in both the Blues flat and hurdle races.

CUAC will continue to compete throughout the summer. Next week sees a match against the combined forces at Loughborough, with a number of athletes ready to chase fast times and elusive Blues standards. However, it is clear that the season’s climax has now past.

It was a day that those competing and watching will remember as one of the greatest of their Cambridge years. Beating Oxford in the Varsity Match is a feeling that is impossible to replicate. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that same emotion is felt again in one year’s time, for now, the simple fact remains: We won!

Men’s Blues:                Cambridge 112-98 Oxford

Women’s Blues:          Cambridge 104-96 Oxford

Men’s Seconds:           Cambridge 121-90 Oxford

Women’s Seconds:      Cambridge 110.5-89.5 Oxford