On Thursday 18 September, 64 Encounter students from Years 4–12 gathered at Wurar Ruwi for the College’s 6th annual Jamieson Ultra – an endurance challenge that pushes every participant to discover just how far they can run in 6 hours.

This unique event is more than just a run. It’s a test of resilience, grit and determination, where each student sets their own personal goals and works to achieve them, one lap at a time. Under picture-perfect skies, this year’s Ultra was marked by new personal bests, inspiring first-time efforts, and incredible perseverance from start to finish.

By the 3.00pm finish line, the combined effort of our runners equated to a distance that could have carried them all the way to Alice Springs – a true testament to the endurance and spirit of our students.

Record-Breaking Achievement

A standout moment from this year’s event came from Caleb Hood (Year 10), who smashed the College record by completing 25 laps of the Wurar Ruwi track – an astonishing 50 kilometres in 6 hours. Caleb’s effort raised the bar for what is possible in the Jamieson Ultra and inspired students and spectators alike.

House Competition Results

As always, House spirit was on full display with points collected across the day. The final tally was:

• 🔴 Rosetta (Plonggi) – 222 points
• 🟢 Granite (Kaiki) – 217 points
• 🔵 Coorong (Kurrangk) – 171 points
• 🟡 Yilki – 163 points

More Than a Run

The Jamieson Ultra takes its inspiration from the philosophy of Kurt Hahn (founder of Outward Bound and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award), who coined the phrase “Plus Est En Vous” – There is more in you than you think.

This spirit of self-discovery is at the heart of the Ultra. Whether students completed a handful of laps or pushed themselves to marathon distances, every runner demonstrated courage, perseverance and growth in answering the question: “How far can you run in 6 hours?”

Congratulations to all who participated in this year’s Jamieson Ultra. We celebrate not only the outstanding achievements, but also the personal journeys and inner strength shown by every student who took on the challenge.