Tomorrow's olympians break Highfield and Brookham School records

While the country basks in the golden glow of British success at the Tokyo Olympics, an independent school in Liphook has been celebrating sporting success of its own.

Three school records were broken during the annual sports day at Highfield and Brookham Schools, courtesy of two talented young athletes.

Year 6 pupil Emily Sherlock set a new middle school record in the girls’ 70m hurdles with a time of 12.23 seconds before eclipsing the previous best distance in the long jump with an impressive leap of 4.61 metres.

And Year 7 sprinter Tilly Hogg shaved four-hundredths of a second off her own previous best mark to claim a new senior school record of one minute seven seconds in the girls’ 400 metres.

The new school records set by both girls proved a welcome tonic after Highfield and Brookham Schools were forced to cancel last year’s sports days because of the coronavirus pandemic, with this year’s event at prep school Highfield split over two days in front of socially-distanced parents.

Highfield Headmaster Phillip Evitt said: “Sports Day is always a tremendously popular event for both children, parents and staff, but the levels of sheer enthusiasm, joy and keen competition seemed to be elevated to another level this year after we were all forced to miss out a year ago.

“So huge congratulations to everyone who took part and gave their all on and off the running track and made it two days to remember, and especially to Emily and Tilly who have proudly joined the Highfield honours board with their record-breaking achievements. Will they be among the Olympians of tomorrow? You never know…”

As well as being renowned for its academic success, Highfield and Brookham Schools has an enviable sporting record too, and this year four more pupils picked up sports scholarships to Wellington College, Bryanston, Seaford College, and Lord Wandsworth College.