BRIXTON BOLT: Evelyn Grace Academy students rise to the challenge

By Tim Dickens, co-editor

Evelyn Grace Academy has become one of the first schools to take up the Brixton Bolt quest to find the fastest man, woman and children in Brixton.

A group of youngsters from the academy, in Shakespeare Road, Brixton, stayed after school today to take part in heats on their impressive 100m track. Each one hoped that they would be fast enough to enter the main Brixton Bolt event, on October 27.

More than a dozen students took part, aiming for one of only a few places.

The fastest time of the day was taken by Tristan, who breezed through the course in a lightning-fast 12.1 seconds. Seeming unfazed by his impressive time, he told the Blog: “It was impressive to see Usain Bolt win the 100m, and made me put even more effort to training. I’ll be training properly before the event.”

The teens with the fastest times will now practise as much as possible before the main race, in Popes Road, Brixton, in two weeks time.

Teacher Marvin Riley said: “This is an absolutely brilliant activity for the students, and it takes advantage of this track we have too.

“Off the back of the Olympics these young people have begun to realise that whatever their background they can develop their skills and be the best.”

He added: “A lot of the boys and girls here have Jamaican heritage, so they were totally inspired by Bolt.”

But will Mr Riley be going for the adult title of Brixton Bolt himself? Well, he told us, he could run the 100m faster than his students when he was their age, “but I’m out of training now, I’ll be there to watch.”

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be the Brixton Bolt, you can still enter for the competition here.