Exeter students follow in the footsteps of Sir Roger Bannister (1946, Physiological Sciences)

With the 60th anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister’s (1946, Physiological Sciences) famous sub-four-minute mile on Tuesday 6 May, it is worth reflecting on the recent successes of Exeter students within the Oxford University Athletics Club (OUAC) who now follow in Sir Roger’s footsteps.

In 0th week of Trinity Term a team of five students, three of them Exonians, travelled to Philadelphia to compete in the 120th annual Penn Relays Championship. Their visit came on the back of OUAC’s 4x400m relay team taking bronze in the 2013 British University Championships and also commemorated the 100th anniversary of Oxford’s 4xmile relay victory at the Penn Relays Championship in 1914.

On the first weekend in May the 2014 British University Championships were held. The Oxford 4x400m relay team improved on last year and collected the silver medal, missing out on gold by less than half a second. Two of this team are Exonians, the current President of OUAC Ralph Eliot (2011, Mathematics)  and Craig Morten (2012, Mathematics), OUAC’s Honorary Secretary.

On 17 May, the University’s Sir Roger Bannister Track on Iffley Road will host the 150th Anniversary Varsity Athletics Match. It is set to be an incredible event with the Oxford and Cambridge teams both looking strong. Alumni are encouraged to come and cheer for Oxford. There will also be a post-Varsity banquet to celebrate the past, present and future of Oxbridge Athletics in the Town Hall which alumni are welcome to attend.