Patrick takes on the world

Patrick Cantlon is the latest Trinity athlete to hit the world stage following his selection in the Australian team for the Under 20 world championships in Colombia in August.

He will compete in the 1500m and 3000m, a year after Ollie Hoare reached the 1500m Olympic final, and sprinter Rohan Browning made the 100m semis in Tokyo.

His appearance in Cali will cap a big year in which he begins studying engineering on a sports scholarship at Northeastern University, Boston, treading an athletics path to the US blazed by the likes of Ollie Hoare, Cameron Griffith and Alex Kolesnikoff.

The Class of ’21 runner’s Trinity career included numerous school and CAS records, and medals at state and national level in track and field, and cross country.

He fondly remembers being part of the School’s Nitro team in Years 7-10 and the winning CAS athletics teams in Years 7, 9 and 10.

His dedication to the Trinity cause was evident in his willingness to compete in cross country each Saturday morning, then back up by playing AFL in the afternoon for the Trinity Firsts.

“You never would have guessed he had run several kilometres before each game, given the way he covered the AFL oval, often being the leading possession winner on ground,” said Sam Jackson, Master in Charge of AFL.

Trinity’s CAS Track and Field Manager Liz Murphy predicted a bright future for a “well-deserving, hard-working, modest athlete”.

“Patrick is humble and appreciative of all the opportunities at Trinity he has been given to be successful.

“He has focus and self-discipline which is indicative of his ability to juggle his academic studies as well as his elite level sport.

“He is a natural leader who gained the respect of his peers and staff through his hard work and dedication to Trinity.”

Senior School teacher Paul Stenhouse said he believed Patrick could be “the next big thing in men’s middle distance in Australia and maybe the world scene”.

“He was goal driven with a plan, focused, very intelligent on and off the track. Added to this well-mannered and a top bloke.”

Patrick was House Captain of Dulwich, whose House Master Chris Aschman described him as “a model of humility, leadership, character, dedication and consistency”.

“These qualities are reflected in his steady progression in athletics.

“His academic results (IB 42 and ATAR 99.1) also are an example of this engagement, character and drive.

“He is an all-round example of a fine Trinitarian.”