A tribute to Mr Jamie Dickson.

 

 A tribute to Mr Jamie Dickson.

The Chengelo Elite Athletics Squad has recently said goodbye to one of its coaches. Mr Jamie Dickson arrived at Chengelo in January 2014 and left just a few days before the end of term 2. His training, encouragement, athletics expertise and wonderful photos have helped to inspire the Squad and he will certainly be missed. Here are some messages for "Mr Jamie" from the athletes on whom he had a positive influence during his time at Chengelo.

"Mr Jamie Dickson had a huge impact on my career as an athlete. He pushed me to my limit and got the best out of me. I will miss him because not only was he an excellent trainer but he was an excellent friend as well. I wish the best for him as he moves on with his life and I hope that he succeeds with the plans he has for his future. And I would just like to thank him for what he has done for me. Thank you Mr Jamie Dickson."

Herbert Mithi

"I want to thank Mr Jamie for all the hard work he put into the Athletic Squad. This made us stronger and we developed more endurance. We had fun being around him when he was training us, even though it was hard we still enjoyed it very much and we do appreciate him for all his effort. I have learnt to appreciate Mr Jamie because you only appreciate something when it is gone, so thank you Mr Jamie for everything you have done. Thanks always."

Maria Bangala

"Mr Jamie was a really great coach and I really learnt a lot from him. He taught me to never give up and just do my best in everything I do no matter what people say or do."

Kikwanza Sondashi

 

"It was nice having Mr Jamie around, not just as a P.E. teacher, but also his presence during our training too. Mr Jamie was encouraging and supportive, he got involved in our training, and he would make it hard, and so we had numerous exhausting sessions with him. He came to the different competitions that the Athletic Squad took part in, this was very encouraging. Mr Jamie always gave his opinion, which was usually good advice. He was a really big part of the squad, and I would like to sincerely thank him for all he had done. It meant a lot to us, and we really miss him."

Johanna Bangala

"Mr Jamie was, and quite truly is, one of our main instructors. Mr Jamie has been with us from the initiation of the club. His proficient coaching skills and knowledge of the track has propelled each member of the club to greater heights and faster times. He has been an inspiration and a great pleasure to have as a trainer. His jovial and exceptional character has spurred us on during times of fun and during times of physical discomfort, especially when he trains us. Mr Jamie taught us never to give up no matter what. He trained us to run hard and always persevere. His spiritual input during our training has changed our lives not only on the track but in every aspect of our life."

Chigo Kawonga

 

 "Mr Jamie was just what the Squad needed at the beginning of its existence. Somebody with athletics experience who was a tireless worker and an individual who was willing and able to pass on knowledge in a way which was perfect for the athletes. His attitude towards coaching the athletes was superb and I will miss my coaching partner!"

Mr Josh Gibbons

Thank you Mr Jamie!

Chengelo's Elite Athletes do the business at Sports Day.

Chengelo Elite Athletes earn success at annual Sports Day.

All five members of Chengelo Elite Athletics Squad triumphed in races at this year’s school Sports Day. Herbert Mithi ran a personal best of 4 mins 57.81s as he won the Intermediate Boys 1500m with ease. Chigomezyo Kawonga was the victor in the Senior Boys 800m and Kikwanza Sondashi won both his 100m and 200m Senior Boys races. Johanna Bangala ran a school record in the Junior Girls 200m, clocking 27.67s. Newly-crowned ‘Queen of the Sprints’ Maria Bangala smashed her personal best and the school record by Almost a second in the Junior Girls 100m, recording a blistering time of 12.55s. She also won in the Junior Girls 400m and 1500m before teaming up with Johanna for victory in the Junior Girls 4x100m relay.

 Maria Bangala winning her 1500m race.

The Elite Athletes were excited for this year’s Sports Day; the first since the CEAS were established and a chance to show how they have improved since last year’s event. In the very first race, the Junior Girls 1500m, Maria showed her athletic superiority by easing to victory and claiming a school record of 5 mins 55.31s. Herbert produced a perfectly-paced effort in the Intermediate Boys race to claim maximum points for his house team and recorded a personal best time in the process. Chigo was the last of the Elite Athletes to run 1500m in the Senior Boys race, but was run down on the final straight after a superb effort by Daniel Parsons. A good time of 4 mins 42.12s was seven seconds off his personal best.

 Herbert Mithi claimed a personal best time in the 1500m.

 Chigo ran a solid time in his 1500m.

Johanna was up next, winning by a huge margin in the Junior Girls 200m. Her time of 27.67s was a school record and her best ever time on a grass track. Incidentally, her best time of 26.30s, set at ISAZ Finals in June, would have made her the fastest under-13 girl over 200m in the UK this year. (Check rankings at www.thepowerof10.info). Kikwanza followed suit in his Senior Boys 200m race, winning by daylight in a school record time of 23.36s.

Johanna running a great bend in her 200m.

Meanwhile, Herbert was away from the running track and making a big impression at the long jump pit. A jump of 5.45m in the Intermediate Boys competition gave him his second win of the day. The young man has shown his versatility in athletics over the last few years. Stop showing off, Herbert!

 Kikwanza on his way to victory in the 200m.

Maria then won her second race of the day, the Junior Girls 400m, in a school record time of 1 min 4.76s. Johanna could have also competed in this, her favourite event, but let another member of the Kaimbi house team take part instead. Besides, she was too busy finishing second in the Junior Girls shot-putt while the race was happening. Stick to the running track, Johanna!

 Maria won four races including the 400m.

Maria followed this up with a superb time of 12.55s to win the Junior Girls 100m. In the Senior Boys 100m, Kikwanza, despite a hasty “On your marks, get set, go!” call from the starter, ran a great time of 11.13s, one hundredth of a second off the school record.

 Kikwanza gets out of the blocks ahead of his rivals in the 100m.

 

Chigo finished off the individual events in style, with victory in the Senior Boys 800m. A slow first lap was followed by a burst of speed by Chigo, who left his competition behind to claim first place in 2 mins 14.83s. This more than made up for the disappointment in the 1500m. Well done, Chigo!

 Chigo on the home straight in the 800m.

To cap off a memorable day of good performances, Johanna teamed up with Maria to smash the Junior Girls 4x100m record with a time of 55.50s, three and a half seconds faster than the old record. Kikwanza was given a lot of catching up to do in the Senior Boys relay. Receiving the baton way behind his competitors, he chased down King of the Sprints runner-up Nelson Amosi but could not quite catch the first-place runner. Still, Kiki was happy with his performance.

 Team Kaimbi recovered from a suspect baton exchange to smash the school record.

 Nelson is helpless as Kikwanza passes him for second position in the relay.

 

Despite the best efforts of Kaimbi house team-mates Maria, Johanna, Kikwanza and Chigo, it was Herbert and his Mukwa house team-mates who won the overall Sports Day trophy on this occasion. Congratulations Herbert and Mukwa house!

Chengelo Elite Athletes impress in King / Queen of the Sprints.

CEAS Athletes share the spoils at annual event.

Kikwanza Sondashi, Maria Bangala and Johanna Bangala showed why they are recognised as Chengelo's Elite Athletes by running some fantastic times and achieving success in the school's annual sprint competition.

Kikwanza left the rest of the field behind as he stormed to victory in the King of the Sprints race in a time of 11.14s, his best time on a grass track. Maria ran a time of 13.08s to win the inaugural Queen of the Sprints race, with Johanna just behind in second place.

It was coach Jamie Dickson's last taste of athletics at Chengelo as he sadly departed for Scotland the following day. But he will take fond memories of the athletes he has coached over the last 7 months, especially after such great performances.

Kikwanza, the reigning champion, watched as 5 boys qualified from the heat. Nelson Amosi, his closest challenger in last year's race, ran a blistering time of 11.41s to show people that he really meant business this year. But in the final, despite letting Nelson getting a good start, Kikwanza turned on the afterburners and won convincingly to the delight of his many fans. The time was 0.02s slower than the school record of 11.12s, set by Joel Pepala in 2007. Kikwanza said later that he hopes the pressure will be off his shoulders on Friday for the annual Sports Day, as he looks to lower that record. The pressure was on the shoulders of his fans as he was carried off back to the hostel after this scintillating performance!

King of the Sprints 2014

In the first ever edition of Queen of the Sprints at Chengelo, Maria and Johanna Bangala lined up against Milumbe Sitondo, under-19 ISAZ 100m champion, Lester Roberts, part of the relay team that won at ISAZ, and Liseli Musokotwane, sister of the Prince of the Sprints, Situmbeko. An exciting race saw Maria, Johanna and Milumbe almost neck and neck until Maria strode ahead to claim the school record and become the first Queen of the Sprints in the history of Chengelo. Johanna finished comfortably in second place, with Liseli Musokotwane finishing fast for third position. Both sisters were delighted with the outcome and will now look forward to Sports Day on Friday.

Queen of the Sprints 2014

Queen of the Sprints gets off to a fast start.

Johanna, Maria and Milumbe battle it out for the title.

A fan with her "Kiki of the Sprints" poster, containing a rather optimistic time prediction.

Kikwanza leaves the rest of the competition behind.

Kikwanza and Nelson both ran excellent times.

 Maria with Prince and Princess of the Sprints, Situmbeko and Mutende.