Brumbies Continue to Build at the 2026 APS Athletics Carnivals

The 2026 APS Athletics Carnivals once again highlighted the growth and commitment of the A.B. Paterson College Athletics Program. Across three days of competition at Somerset College, our Brumbies athletes proudly represented the College, demonstrating skill, Brumbies Spirit and a strong commitment to personal performance.

Following a successful season of school-based and holiday training, students entered the APS Carnivals well prepared and ready to compete. The commitment shown throughout the year was reflected in individual performances, as well as age groups who train together and perform well together.

One of the most encouraging outcomes from this year's carnival was the significant improvement in our relay performances. Relay success requires much more than individual speed. It demands commitment to training, technical precision and trust in teammates. Across both Junior and Secondary School relays, our athletes demonstrated substantial growth, producing our strongest relay performances in recent years and highlighting the positive influence of targeted sessions.

The 2026 team also recorded the highest number of individual event victories by A.B. Paterson College athletes at an APS Athletics Carnival in the past five years. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our students and coaches, and reflects the strength of the program being developed across all age groups.

Team Results

Secondary School
Percentage: 5th place and Aggregate: 6th place

Junior School
Percentage: 7th place and Aggregate: 7th place

The Secondary School team maintained a comfortable buffer over 7th place while remaining highly competitive in the percentage standings. The Junior School squad held off 8th place and continued to close the gap on the middle-tier schools, providing a strong foundation for future growth.

A special mention goes to our 13 Years Girls, who achieved an outstanding 2nd Place Age Group Finish, showcasing both talent and depth across their division, as well as the 11 Year Girls who placed 3rd overall.

Individual Performances

The carnival featured several outstanding individual performances, including two APS record-breaking achievements.

Madeline Driscoll set a new APS record in the 10 Years Girls Discus, while Ayami Paguti set a new APS record in the 11 Years Girls Long Jump. These achievements place both athletes among the outstanding performers of the competition.

Other notable performances included:

• Abigail Ostwald (17-19 Girls) produced an outstanding sprint campaign, securing 2nd place in both the 200m and 400m, while also finishing 3rd in the 100m. 
• Ayami Paguti (11 Girls) claimed 1st place in the 100m, 200m, Long Jump and High Jump, while also placing 2nd in Shot Put and 3rd in the 800m. 
• Madeline Driscoll (10 Girls) won both Shot Put and Discus, while breaking the APS record in the Discus. 
• Maks Marczyk (14 Boys) won both Shot Put and Javelin, while finishing 2nd in Discus. 
• Amber Menardo (17-19 Girls) won both Long Jump and Triple Jump. 
• Caitlin Papworth (13 Girls) claimed victory in the Discus and placed 2nd in High Jump. 
• Hudson Schultz (16 Boys) won the Shot Put and finished 2nd in the Discus.
• Ewan Walker (17-19 Boys) claimed victory in the Discus.
• Melody Marks-Edmondson, Ruby Hasted and Hannah See each secured victories in their respective Javelin events. 
• Yara Elghobashi (12 Girls) claimed victory in the Discus.

Across the carnival, Brumbies athletes earned an impressive number of podium finishes, with victories recorded in sprinting, middle-distance running, jumps and throws, demonstrating the program's growing depth across all event disciplines.

Age Champion Results

Several students were recognised for their exceptional performances throughout the carnival:

• Ayami Paguti – Age Champion, 11 Years Girls
• Hannah See – Age Champion, 14 Years Girls
• Max Merrick – 3rd Place Age Champion, 14 Years Boys
• Mac Mitchell – 3rd Place Age Champion, 16 Years Boys

These awards recognise consistent excellence across multiple events and highlight the breadth of talent within the Brumbies Athletics Program.

Top Three Performances

Congratulations to the following students who achieved top three placings at the 2026 APS Athletics Carnivals:

• Abigail Ostwald – 2nd, 17-19 Girls 200m
• Abigail Ostwald – 2nd, 17-19 Girls 400m
• Abigail Ostwald – 3rd, 17-19 Girls 100m
• Amber Menardo – 1st, 17-19 Girls Long Jump
• Amber Menardo – 1st, 17-19 Girls Triple Jump
• Ayami Paguti – 1st, 11 Girls High Jump
• Ayami Paguti – 1st, 11 Girls Long Jump
• Ayami Paguti – 1st, 11 Girls 200m
• Ayami Paguti – 1st, 11 Girls 100m
• Ayami Paguti – 2nd, 11 Girls Shot Put
• Ayami Paguti – 3rd, 11 Girls 800m
• Bennett Longhurst – 2nd, 15 Boys 1500m
• Bennett Longhurst – 3rd, 15 Boys 800m
• Caitlin Papworth – 1st, 13 Girls Discus
• Caitlin Papworth – 2nd, 13 Girls High Jump
• Cara Cloete – 2nd, 14 Girls Javelin
• Catey Brookes – 2nd, 16 Girls Discus
• Evan Yao – 2nd, 13 Boys Discus
• Ewan Walker – 1st, 17-19 Boys Discus
• Georgia Elkington – 3rd, 13 Girls Shot Put
• Hannah See – 1st, 14 Girls Javelin
• Hannah See – 3rd, 14 Girls Long Jump
• Heath Kachel – 3rd, 12 Boys High Jump
• Heath Kachel – 3rd, 12 Boys Long Jump
• Hongyi Yan – 2nd, 12 Boys Shot Put
• Hudson Schultz – 1st, 16 Boys Shot Put
• Hudson Schultz – 2nd, 16 Boys Discus
• Isobelle Delacy – 2nd, 13 Girls Shot Put
• Isobelle Delacy – 2nd, 13 Girls Discus
• Luke Benson – 3rd, 12 Boys 800m
• Mac Mitchell – 2nd, 16 Boys Javelin
• Mac Mitchell – 3rd, 16 Boys High Jump
• Madeline Driscoll – 1st, 10 Girls Shot Put
• Madeline Driscoll – 1st, 10 Girls Discus
• Maks Marczyk – 1st, 14 Boys Shot Put
• Maks Marczyk – 1st, 14 Boys Javelin
• Maks Marczyk – 2nd, 14 Boys Discus
• Max Durre – 3rd, 13 Boys Discus
• Melody Marks-Edmondson – 1st, 16 Girls Javelin
• Mickele Summersfield – 3rd, 17-19 Boys 1500m
• Mitchell Cutajar – 3rd, 13 Boys Javelin
• Ruby Hasted – 1st, 17-19 Girls Javelin
• Yara Elghobashi – 1st, 12 Girls Discus Throw

Acknowledgements

The continued success of the Athletics Program would not be possible without the dedication of our coaching staff and support team. Their passion, expertise and commitment to providing high-quality training opportunities throughout the year have played a significant role in the development of our athletes. A sincere thank you to Mrs Tennille Mitchell, Ms Sally Gordon, Mr Ryan Sydenham, Mr Jed Donnel, Mr Steve Jackson, Mrs Kathryn Grimmer, Ms Jas Hayes, Mr Brett Green, Ms Jo Cubit and Mr Brooke Whitley for their contributions throughout the season.

This year's results once again reinforced a clear trend: students who committed consistently to training achieved the greatest improvement and success. Whether through stronger relay performances, personal bests, podium finishes or record-breaking achievements, the rewards of dedication were evident across the carnival.

Our focus now shifts to the athletes who have qualified for the next stage of competition. Information regarding upcoming regional carnivals is expected from the district early next week. We also look forward to supporting students through the Queensland Athletics season and the Queensland All Schools Championships during the upcoming break. We encourage all athletes to continue training, pursuing their goals and developing their love for the sport of athletics.

Congratulations to all students who represented A.B. Paterson College with pride, particularly those who committed to training throughout the year and those who stepped outside their comfort zones when called upon by the team. Your efforts have helped set a new benchmark for the Athletics Program, and we look forward to building on this success in 2027.

Matt Stopel
Director of Co-Curricular Activities & Head of Athletics