LAST week the BFP reported that St Teresa’s School had been named one of the top three independent schools in the country for sporting excellence; this week the news is even better.

Competing at the National Prep Schools Athletics Championship in St Albans, they stormed to a phenomenal medal haul of nine golds, four silvers and four bronzes.

And if that wasn’t enough their nine athletes also returned home with four new national records to boot.

The first half of the day was pretty good with six medals and two personal bests, but that turned out to be little more than a curtain raiser for the drama to come.

The afternoon medal rush began in the girls 1,500m with Hatty Bell and Lucy Rose smashing the previous national record by a full 13 seconds as they raced to a one-two finish.

Suitably inspired, Pia Crowley then broke the 200m national record with a time of 29.07 seconds, just after cutting her 100m best time down to 14.02 seconds, before Kitty Conroy and Matilda Cox dominated the 800m.

They came home first and third with Conroy’s time nine seconds better than the previous national best.

Joe Hick then won a thrilling high jump final before an unbelievable day reached a fitting crescendo in the 4x100m relay with Crowley, Conroy, Rose and Bell adding another gold, shattering a 28-year national record in the process.

An unbelievable display individually from the St Teresa’s team ended with a breathtaking display collectively as the Girls 4x100m relay team shattered a 28 year old record set in 1986. Pia Crowley, Kitty Conroy, Lucy Rose and Hatty Bell claimed first place after another sizzling display, complete with silk changeovers and collective brilliance on each leg.

Coach Dean Stenning said: “Wow – what more can I say about the children at St Teresa’s School?

“All nine athletes improved their own personal bests throughout the day, which is a great achievement in itself but claiming 17 national medals and four national records is just phenomenal.

“Since last Monday’s ISA National Championships success, all nine athletes have put their season’s achievements to one side and focused fully on the National Prep Schools Championships.

“Each athlete has demonstrated such an incredible work ethic and their passion at such a young age is astounding.”

Earlier, Harvey Bell and Conroy had got the team rolling with thirds in the 70m hurdles, before Harvey returned to the track 15 minutes later to win the 1,500m.

Fergus Burnett then came second in the 200m in a new personal best time, while Joe Hick and Louis Summons finished second and sixth in the boys 800m and Conroy came home second in the girls long jump.