House. Picture: J.L. “FRED” SMITH
THE 61-year-old record of Olympian Graham Boase will stand for at least another 12 months after the annual Millicent High School athletics carnival was staged on Wednesday.
Despite the commendable efforts of open boys triple jumper winner Brad Hann, the record of Boase remains out of reach.
The remarkable 12.75m hop, step and jump by Boase in the 1958 event heralded his talents which ultimately led to the international stage.
Boase went on to represent Australia in this event in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
It was still a momentous day nonetheless for Hann as he broke the open boys high jump record of 187cm set by Tom Hateley in 2000.
The new record is 192cm.
Hann’s high jump was the sole new record to be set on the day.
He has honed his skills in recent years with membership of an athletics club at Port Adelaide.
Meanwhile, hundreds of other students revelled in the conditions as MHS staged its leading annual sporting event.
The yellow colours flew the highest at day’s end at 3pm as Boandik was the winning house.
MHS principal John Shelton joined other staff at daybreak at 6.30am to prepare the main oval for a range of running, jumping and throwing events.
Meanwhile, many students opted to prepare in other ways with dyed hair a feature.
They chose the colour to match their house.
After five years in charge of the day, senior teacher Todd Watson handed over responsibility to Cate Lepley and she was assisted by 24 other MHS staff members.
A familiar face at the event was veteran MHS teacher Steve Tredrea who joined the staff in 1977 and attended his 43rd consecutive athletics carnival.
Tredrea has had long service leave during his long teaching career but always avoided taking it in first term.
He said he had fulfilled a variety of roles over the years.
“I always want to be around for the sports day and swimming carnival,” Tredrea said.
“They are always a good thing.
“Interschool sports carnivals at Millicent have always been a highlight.”
The 2019 carnival prompted a mixed reaction from year 12 student Noah Lang as it was his fifth and last at the school.
The Millicent underage footballer and West Gambier tennis player competed in eight running, jumping and throwing events.
“It is good to get out and have a go at all the events,” Lang said.
