Student Athletes Beat the Heat at Champions Day

Over 700 athletes from Inspiration Trust academies gathered at the UEA Sportspark on Friday 19th June 2026 for the biggest sporting event of the year – Champions Day. Travelling from all nine secondary schools within the trust, spanning Years 7 to 10, students competed in a full programme of track and field events under glorious summer conditions. 

Bathed in sunshine throughout the day, the heat added an extra layer of challenge for athletes. In response, organisers adapted the schedule to prioritise student wellbeing, moving the demanding 800m races to the start of the day to avoid peak temperatures. This ensured competitors could tackle this longest event in safer, cooler conditions. 

The event then followed a revised structure, with Year 7 and 8 students taking to the track during the morning while Year 9 and 10 competed in field events. In the afternoon, the roles reversed, with the older students showcasing their speed on the track and the younger year groups turning their attention to the field. 

From the first starting gun to the final trophy presentation - the atmosphere at the Sportspark remained full of excitement and energy. Athletes clearly came well prepared, delivering standout performances across every event. Despite the heat, races were fiercely contested, often decided by milliseconds, while field events went down to jump offs and countbacks—keeping spectators captivated throughout. In challenging conditions, students consistently embodied the sporting values developed over the year, demonstrating resilience, determination, and outstanding teamwork. 

Individual awards recognised those who went above and beyond, celebrating the trust’s core values. These included friendship and courage (Year 7), equality and respect (Year 8), determination and excellence (Year 9), and inspiration (Year 10). In total, an incredible 19 records were broken, of which 10 were on the track and 9 on the field. This highlights the high standard of competition on display even in the heat. 

The smooth delivery of such a large-scale event was a testament to the teamwork and collaboration of the secondary PE staff. Each school played a vital role in ensuring the day ran efficiently, taking responsibility for areas such as field events, track timing, and score management. Across the day, over 120 races were completed—from 100m sprints through to 800m races and 4x100m relays—alongside five field events: long jump, high jump, javelin, shot put, and discus. 

Paul Wayman, Inspiration Trust Schools Sports Coordinator said

"What an incredible Champions Day! Every student here today should feel so proud, they all demonstrated skill, determination and sportsmanship throughout - regardless of result. The event showcased both the sporting excellence across our trust and the core values of respect and perseverance, made even more impressive in the heat. 

Thank you to Clive and Gary from Norfolk Athletics, our dedicated PE staff, and our student leaders from Sir Isaac Newton and King Edward VII Academy for ensuring the day ran so smoothly.” 

It’s been an incredible year of sports events, with success and recognition awards brilliantly shared across all nine schools. We’re hugely excited for what next year will bring and can’t wait to see even more energy, talent, and achievement on display!