Athletics
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FOUR runners have become the pride of Hanwood Public School after winning a relay silver medal at the NSW Primary School Sports Association State Athletics Carnival in Sydney.
Competing in the junior boys' (8-10yrs) division, Judd Stevenson, Jacob Witherspoon, Heath Crossingham and Oliver Bartter beat athletes from bigger schools to make the podium.
The foursome scorched around the track in 56.86 seconds to only just miss gold behind Sydney school Christ the King North Rocks (56:63).
Hanwood Public School acting principal Gary Workman said the school was rapt with the boys' efforts.
"We're just proud of them as a school that they went out there and did their very best," he said.
Tony Paton, who coached the boys, said it was a remarkable achievement.
"Just even getting to the semi-finals would've been a big thing," he said.
"It wasn't only the public schools, it's the catholic ones they were up against as well.
"It's a pretty incredible effort when you stop to think about it."
Before the carnival, Paton thought the boys were a chance of medalling if they ran to their potential.
"You look back at previous years and go by the times," he said.
"They only had to come down a second from what they ran at the Riverina championships.
"If they did that, I knew they'd be a shot."
Paton also coached the Griffith East Public School senior boys', senior girls' and junior girls' relay teams that made the semi-finals.