Skill and fitness
Athletics is one of the two main summer sports and is the epitome of our policy of combining academic excellence with physical dexterity and fitness.
The Academy has a very strong tradition in Athletics. Every year the school produces teams at junior and senior level to rank amongst the best school teams in the country, whilst graduates of our team have gone on to international success.
The Academy's own summer "Games" are a major school occasion. These athletics events are eagerly and enthusiastically contested at all age levels. Combined with the annual "Big Picnic" they represent a fine celebration of the Academy spirit, even when, as sadly has occurred twice in recent years, they have to face inclement weather. The Scottish summer may be unreliable, but the Academy Games is always worth the effort!
Facilities
The Sports Centre with its well equipped gymnasium is used for year round training, as is the weights room at the senior school, whilst Arboretum Field becomes an athletics facility in the summer.
Arboretum Field combines space and shelter with natural viewing facilities for spectators.
2008 Season
Training
This year sees the 150th year of the Academy Games. There will be a few special events, and we hope to start the day off with a champagne breakfast for interested parents and Academicals. Matches1. V Fettes, Merchiston and Stewart’s Melville: U17 and Open Merchiston 265, Stewart’s Melville 225, Edinburgh Academy 218, Fettes 210 Some excellent individual efforts but also some disappointing performances and late withdrawals from events saw us come third overall in this match. We compete against Stewart’s Melville again on Tuesday so it would very good to turn this result around. 2. V Watson’s: Open, U17,U15,U14 Team athletics at its best as it went down to the wire with the Open Relay just pipped at the line to seal a Watson’s victory. Great entertainment and some tremendous performances. The U14 team were dominant with Freddie Smith, Chris Thompson, Davis Catonio setting new PBs in every event and Fergus Greig in 3 out of 4. Smith and Thompson won all their events. The best performances in the U15 group were Tom Campbell in HJ with a PB of 1.56m, Angus Inwood winning his 800 and 1500m and Jamie Farndale's win in the 100m. Notable wins in the U17s were Nasos Plevris in Discus, GP Franchi in 800 and 1500m and Sam Nicholson in Shot (13.19) - he is getting very close to the school record set 21 years ago by his uncle and is throwing well beyond the Games record. In the Open, our captain Brodie Ballantine was in fine form winning 400m, hurdles, LJ and javelin, and Zak Muluzi won the HJ . Open: EA 67, Watson’s 63 3. V Merchiston: Lost 144.5 to 129.5
In the U17 competition the Academy had wins with Angus Normand in the 400m running 56.9, Marshall Catonio in the High Jump jumping 1.65m, Sam Nicholson in the shot with a putt of 12.49m. The star of the afternoon was GP Franchi who won both the U17 800m 2m10.6 and 1500m 4m49.5 in two very competitive races. Despite the thunder and lighting the match was completed . Well done to all athletes who have represented the team this year at senior level. |
Edinburgh Schools and Scottish Schools Relay and Pentathlon
Brodie Ballantine won the Open Pentathlon just pushing Rory Paterson into second place. Brodie won a splendid cup, the first time it has been awarded to an Academy athlete in 17 years. Scottish Schools ResultsBallantine Brodie Boys A O/17 110m Hurdles BRONZE 17.06 |
A tremendous week on the athletics field starting with Edinburgh Schools for our U14 and U15 athletes where we won numerous medals, with 
An even better day for Academy athletics on Saturday where the Under 14 relay team of Fred Smith, Chris Thomson, Davis This page is: Edinburgh Academy/sport / athletics.htm
