OKEHAMPTON College students really went out with a bang at the Exeter and District inter-schools athletics competition held last week at Exeter Arena.

With 12 schools taking part, competition was always going to be strong but the Okehampton teams were well up to the job.

With so many competitions behind them this summer they performed like the old hands that they are and fought hard for every placing.

The multitude of first and second places gained by the students clearly indicated how much work and commitment they have put into the training this year.

The end results were outstanding — out of a possible 10 shields Okehampton won seven, with the girls wiping the board in the year 7, year 8, year 9 and year 10 competitions and the boys adding to it with the year 7 and year 8 competitions. The year 9 boys were second and the year 10 boys were third.

The girls also managed to lift the relay cup by winning all four of the relay races.

All the athletes who took part deserve a huge pat on the back, and are too numerous to mention (80 plus), but special note should be made of Tom Smith who set a new year 9 boys' 200m record and Sarah Gomersall who set a new year 10 girls' 300m record — only the second time she has competed at the distance!