BGS Gift 2025

Sprint sensation

This year’s BGS Gift was a breathtaking spectacle of speed and school spirit. This iconic running race brought together some of our finest athletes, culminating in a fiercely contested final that showcased the depth of talent at BGS.

The final featured an electrifying lineup: Angus Van De Water (8.5m, Year 7, Fairweather House), Teddy Bowen (7m, Year 8, Armstrong House), Max Lawrence (7m, Year 9, Crowther House), Kelly O’Brien (5m, Year 10, Melville House), Jack Nicholls (7m, Year 11, School House), and Hugh Kabengele (0m, Year 12, Hancock House).

In a stunning display, Hugh Kabengele powered through from scratch to claim his first-ever BGS Gift gold medal. Teddy Bowen, the young BGS gun, secured a hard-earned second place off a challenging 7m mark, while rising star Max Lawrence took third off the same mark, rounding out an impressive podium.

A standout feature of this year’s event was the remarkable diversity in House representation. Each heat produced a winner from a different House, a rare occurrence that highlighted the incredible depth and balance of talent across BGS. This unique spread of heat victories amplified the sense of unity and pride within our school community, with every House celebrating a moment in the spotlight.

Year 12 sprinter Hugh Kabengele is third nationally over 100m in his Under 20 age bracket. Having achieved bronze in the 100m finals at the National Athletic Championships in Perth earlier this year and also picking up a silver in the men’s 4x100m relay running the final leg, Hugh has now been selected into the Australian Institute of Sport Pathway Transition Program that supports Australian athletes who are demonstrating potential to target Olympic Games, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games.

Hugh trains at Sandringham Athletics Club, where he is the current Junior Champion and holder of the Bart Kruytbosch Memorial Trophy. Previous winners include Maurie Plant (after whom the international meet in Melbourne each year is named and at which Hugh has competed) and BGS’s own Tom Morehouse.

This electrifying performance at the BGS Gift sets the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable School Athletics Day. With such a diverse and talented field of athletes, the energy and excitement from the Gift are building momentum for a spectacular showcase of BGS spirit and athletic excellence. Congratulations to all competitors.

Lachlan Connell
Head of Athletics