As it turns out, Nanaimo’s best under-16 track and field athletes are among Canada’s best, too.
Five local runners who competed at the Legion Canadian Youth Athletics Championships in Ottawa this past weekend were some of the fastest at the national-level meet.
Thomas Oxland was a double winner, taking gold in his 800-metre race and also helping Team B.C. win gold in the 1,600m sprint medley relay race.
Marita DeSchiffart won the 1,500m steeplechase.
Another notable result came from Miryam Bassett, who set a B.C. record with her time of 3:36.07 in the 1,200m and would have also set a meet record if she hadn’t been edged out for gold by Quebec’s Anne-Marie Comeau.
Top-10 results from the meet include:
U16 boys - Thomas Oxland, first, 800m, 1:59.31, fourth, 1,200m, 3:14.10, first, 1,600m sprint medley relay, 3:40.75; Peter Oxland, fifth, 1,500m steeplechase, 4:34.22.
U16 girls - Marita DeSchiffart, fourth, 1,200 metres, 3:37.13; first, 1,500m steeplechase, 4:56.14; Erica DeSchiffart, seventh, 1,200m, 3:41.65; third, 2,000m, 6:32.67; Miryam Bassett, fourth, 800m, 2:15.28, second, 1,200m, 3:36.07.