BY IAN THORPE
For athletes in our local school system, another track and field season has now come to an end.
Earlier this month the annual Nanaimo District Elementary School Track and Field Championships were held at Rotary Bowl, involving competitors from zone qualifers representing approximately 25 local elementary schools. This week we highlight the top finishers from girls’ events…
In the tyke (born 2007-08) division, Hammond Bay runner Brea Gillette had a strong meet, winning the 100m, 200m and new 1,200m event replacing the 1,500m. Gabriola’s Lucy Russell placed second in 100m and 200m, with Ami Cleave of Hammond Bay second in 1,200m. Third-place finishers were Cassidy White from École Océane in 100m, Hannah Duffell from Pauline Haarer in 200m and Naiah Kulla of Hammond Bay in 1,200m. Another new event this year was the 600m distance, replacing the 400m and 800m races. Duffell was the winner, with Hammond Bay entrants Ella Husband and Kulla second and third.
Tyke girls’ field events featured the only record broken in the meet. Russell set a new mark in long jump with a leap of 3.61m, besting a record that had lasted since 1974. Second place went to White and third place to Cilaire’s Jorja Furey. Second and third in softball throw were Brooklyn Bianchini of North Oyster and Eve Mailhot from McGirr.
Competition on the track for peewee (born 2005-06) saw Mountain View’s Rachel Bryce win the 100m and take third in 200m. Second and third in 100m were Erika Fay from Randerson Ridge and Valerie Kurylowich of North Oyster. Hammond Bay’s Avery Henderson was first in both 200m and 600m. Runner-up in 200m was Adel Blid from Uplands Park, while Jayda Brennan-Dinh of Randerson Ridge was second in 600m. Third in 600m as well as second in 1200m was Mountain View’s Aynsley Norman. Sebryn Wear from Park Avenue won the 1,200m, with Sophia Ledingham of Pauline Haarer third.
Top peewee girl in the long jump was Meadow Work from Mountain View. Fay was second, as well as winning the triple jump. Quarterway’s Montanna Stewart took third in long jump, while second and third in triple jump were Avery Harrison of McGirr and Nya Snikkers from Mountain View.
In throwing events, Mountain View’s Emma Kirk won the shot put, with Kory Brooks from Gabriola second. Park Avenue’s Kianna Cooper was third in shot put and first in softball throw. Cedar’s Mackenzie Cameron won the discus event. Second in discus was Nicole Richardson from Forest Park, while Park Avenue’s Amber Prevost took second in softball. Third in both discus and softball went to Quarterway athlete Anya Nikolet.
With bantam (born 2003-04) girls, action on the track saw Sonya Urbanowicz from McGirr win the 100m, ahead of Erin Murphy from Uplands Park and Sara Hurt of McGirr. Quarterway runners Emma Hache and Mya Creed were first and second in 200m, with Fairview’s Cadence Spence third. In the longer distances Keira Martin from Pauline Haarer was first in 600m and Alexa Berg of McGirr was first in 1,200m. Berg was also second in 600m, with Cilaire’s Carys Menard third. Isabelle Parsons of Pauline Haarer was third in 1200m.
In field events, top three bantam girls’ long jumpers were Hurt, Natasha Kaktins from Mountain View and Sophia Peer from Pauline Haarer. Menard won the triple jump, outleaping Teya Spearing of Hammond Bay, who was third. Tops in the discus throw was Zoelle Quigg from Departure Bay, with Quarterway teammates Miranda Eby and Creed second and third. In shot put, McGirr’s Elise Olson took first, Bailey Rossnagle of Hammond Bay was second and Quarterway’s Alannah Wright third.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.