Pupil clocks up the miles
A student is to have a track named after him after he ran 125 miles as part a challenge at Dukeries College, Ollerton.
Kamyn Godber (14) of Stepnall Heights, Ollerton, ran the distance as part of a challenge for the students and staff to collectively travel the same distance as it would take to reach Brazil.
They were set a target of each reaching 15 miles on a track on the field over three weeks — and reaching a total of 4,700 miles collectively.
But many exceeded expectations and the college ended up running about 21,000 miles.
They ran during their lunchtimes and after school.
Kamyn, who is taking a Btec in sports studies, amazed everyone when he ran such a distance, which took him about 261/2 hours.
The college is set to name the challenge route, The Kamyn Lap, in recognition of his achievement, and there are plans to put up a plaque as well.
The college plans to repeat the challenge next year, when they will raise money through sponsorship to give to each year group’s chosen charity.
Kamyn said he exceeded his own initial expectations and living close to the college had helped.
He even took two days’ break from the challenge on the advice of his teachers.
He said there was a lot of competition, which pushed him on to reach the target.
The furthest he went on a single day was 11 miles.
Kamyn said he had initially hoped to reach 60 miles, then set a target of 120 and on the final day ran six miles to reach 125 miles.
He said: “On the last Friday I was just pushing it. I missed two days just resting. I’ll try to get to 130 next year.”
The students were given different wristbands for the milestones they reached. They got bronze award wristbands for 15 miles, silver for 25 miles and gold for 35 miles.
Anyone who managed to complete 60 miles to reach the elite award got a black wristband and a t-shirt.
A PE teacher and head of year ten, Mr Mike Hendley, developed the idea after two teachers, Miss Vicky Watson and Mr Steve Nelson, visited a school in Recife, Brazil.
It formed a partnership with Dukeries College through the International Inspirations Programme.
The partnership could eventually lead to pupils making the trip.
Mrs Watson said: “We reached Brazil in the first week and started our way back in the second. The third week was spent taking on the Tropic of Capricorn, which we did with the support of everyone at the college.
“At one stage there were 350 students out on the track.
“We were just flabbergasted by the enthusiasm.”
Miss Watson also praised Kamyn’s efforts to individually reach such a distance.
She said: “It is fantastic. He is a very good sports person.
“I think he lived on the track pretty much.
“For him to excel as an individual student, he has set a precedent for the rest of the kids.”
PE teacher Mr Nolan White ran the furthest out of all of the staff at the college, reaching 121 miles.
Joseph Rhodes (12) ran the second furthest out of all the students, getting to 96 miles and Levi Hood (13) ran the furthest out of all the female students with 88 miles.
