Sophie Wallwork, an exceptional 18-year-old athlete from Strathallan School, has made history by breaking a sprint record which had remained for 33 years.
Participating in an exhilarating Athletics showdown among Strathallan School, Merchiston Castle School, and Fettes College, Sophie delivered an awe-inspiring performance, achieving personal bests in both the 100m and 200m races.
In a remarkable feat, Sophie shattered the school’s 200m record, which had been in place since 1990, with an astonishing time of 24.6 seconds. This achievement adds to her already impressive collection of eight school records. Reflecting on her recent success, Sophie expressed gratitude to her former coach, John Fleming, who identified her potential during her first Sports Day at Strathallan and guided her towards sprinting.
She said, “I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Mr. Fleming, who recognized my talent and nurtured it. His unwavering support and guidance have played a crucial role in my accomplishments. I am immensely proud of my performance on Tuesday, and I hope it sets a benchmark for future students to strive towards.”
Sophie, who serves as the Athletics Captain at Strathallan, was one of 26 senior pupils who formed a formidable team at the Meadow Bank stadium in Edinburgh. Impressively, six of the Strathallan athletes secured podium positions in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m events.
Jim Thompson, the Director of Sport at Strathallan, praised the outstanding performances of all the athletes, emphasizing the vibrant spirit of competition and camaraderie that characterized the event.
He added, “All our athletes delivered outstanding performances, igniting the spirit of friendly rivalry between the schools. It was fantastic to see so many under 16s and over 16s competing.”
After achieving new records, Sophie continued to demonstrate her athletic prowess at Strathallan’s highly anticipated Sports Day. Her exceptional performances on the track not only earned her the prestigious title of Senior Girls Victrix Ludorum but also played a vital role in propelling her school house, Thornbank, to victory in the Fleming Cup. As a result, Thornbank emerged as the overall House Champions for 2023.
Categories: Strathallan School
