Two former St Albans students will be taking major strides this weekend at Rio 2016, as they compete for Team GB in the Olympic 100m relay finals.

Fingers are crossed at Oaklands College for the success of Daryll Neita and Ojie Edoburun, both stars of Oaklands Athletics Academy.

Oaklands principal Zoe Hancock said: “We are incredibly proud of all of the sporting achievements of former pupils, but to have someone excel to Olympic finalist level is just incredible.”

Daryll Neita, who progressed through the college’s Emerging Athlete Support Programme and lived at Oaklands’ St Albans campus, will compete with fellow team mates in the Women’s 4x100m relay final and Ojie Edoburun in the Men’s 4x100m relay final.

Both will compete alongside some of the world’s top athletes in the hope of adding to the ever-growing glittering medal collection in what is proving to be Team GB’s most successful away games yet.

Nineteen-year-old Daryll, who hails from London, and, Ojie 20, of north London, graduated from the college in 2015.

As Oaklands Wolves, they took advantage of the college’s dedicated expert coaching and support services to continue education in tandem with achieving potential in a chosen sport.

Zoe said: “Not only is it a testament to both Darryl and Ojie’s hard work and determination, but it also reflects on the fantastic support of our specialist coaches.

“Whatever happens, home-grown Olympic talent is a great inspiration to both our students and the wider community.”

The duo are not the only Oaklands Alumni to make it to Team GB in Rio this year – also competing in this year’s games are Paralympic London 2012 bronze medal winner Olivia Breen and Hannah McLeod of the England Hockey Team who will battle it out in the Women’s Hockey final this evening (Friday).

Team GB said yesterday (Thursday) that it hopes to “end a 32-year wait for a women’s sprint relay medal in Rio.

“The Team GB quartet of Dina Asher-Smith, Asha Philip, Desiree Henry and Daryll Neita placed second in their heat in 41.93 seconds to rank second overall for the final on Friday night.

“Team GB haven’t won an Olympic medal in the women’s 4x100m relay since Los Angeles 1984, but Asher-Smith admits all the quartet can do is give every effort, and they’ll be content.”