AFTER a weekend of fierce competitive athletics at Exeter Arena, when the best teams from all over the county were involved, Okehampton College students proudly returned with three team golds, one individual gold and one individual silver.
The Combined Events Championships, a competition that tests the all-round athletic ability of the competitors in five disciplines — hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot and 800m — is always a hot contest, and the Okehampton students really rose to the challenge.
The boys' teams started with excellent performances from Max Soby, Paul Frost and Craig Guscott in the U13 section.
This was their first athletics competition but they fought to the end, running out clear winners from Kelly College, with Max Soby collecting the individual award.
The U15 boys followed their lead and the three year 9 pupils, Tom Smith, Iain Sercombe and Jonathan Hudson-Jones gave every event their best.
The team competition was still in the balance at the beginning of the final event, the 800m, but all put in wonderful run times to hold a very strong challenge from St Peter's.
The girls performed with great confidence. The year seven girls' team of Rebecca Rowe, Sarah Forrester-Wilson and Hannah Stepto also competing in their first event, supported one another and achieved success in the team event
Rebecca was silver medallist in the individual section, only six points behind the winner.
The U15 girls' team had their work cut out to make an impression on the other teams, but inspiring performances in individual events, resulting in several PBs, gave them confidence for the rest of the season.