Track and field provincial championships have only just started, and already some champions have been determined.
Impressive performances in running, jumping and throwing events highlighted the first day of the B.C. High School Track and Field Championships at Nanaimo’s Rotary Bowl stadium.
One of the first champions for 2016 is Nina Schultz of the New Westminster Hyacks, who won the senior girls' long jump with a six-metre leap.
“I’m pretty happy,” said the Grade 12 student. “This is my second year winning in a row, so I’m proud of myself.”
Kiana Bekar of Langley Christian was second with a 5.52m jump and Ladysmith's Rachel Jerome was third with 5.51m.
Schultz had a pretty good idea of the kind of competition to expect, and was mostly trying to meet her own standards.
“It was OK. I matched my personal best, but today I wanted to go over, at least six metres. My actual goal was the record, which is 6.10, but I just didn’t get up there.”
She did jump 6.15m on a fault.
Schultz will also be competing in high jump and hurdles, so having the long jump championship already in the bag is a good start.
“I think it sets up for a good weekend and just positive vibes towards the rest of the meet,” she said.
She said Rotary Bowl will make a good championship venue.
“Oh yeah, this is a really nice track,” Schultz said. “And it’s kind of nice to travel; it kind of hypes up the intensity of the meet.”
Friday’s action starts bright and early with the senior girls’ hammer throw at 8:30 a.m., followed by senior girls’ high jump at 9 a.m. Other highlights of Friday’s events include the 100-metre dash at 2:55 p.m. and the 4x100m relay at 4:40 p.m.
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