The track and field team was firing on all cylinders yesterday at the North Shore Championships. Coach Kate Ayotte has once again sent in one of her amazing reports on how our athletes did against the top-notch competition from across the North Shore:
The track and field team competed at the North Shore Championships on Tuesday, May 16th at Swangard. The athletes had terrific attitudes, despite the freezing cold Mayvember weather! It was the first time in this coach's North Shore history that the athletes didn't get sunburns at this meet! There were some fantastic performances across the board, with a shout out to the talented Grade 8 girls squad! Collingwood, as an overall team, placed in the top 8, losing only to AAA schools. Collingwood managed to beat out Argyle, Don Ross, Whistler, Howe Sound, Elphinstone, Carson, Chatelach and Mulgrave and were very close to Seycove and Windsor. Had all of our athletes been healthy and not performing in plays the outcome would have been even better!
First, the distance runners. In the 800 meter, Alicia Ranahan was 4th place (likely still earning a spot at provincials since her time was outstanding) and the same terrific athlete placed 4th in the 1500. Luckily, even though each event only has 3 births, coaches can 'open zone' athletes and Alicia has a great chance of qualifying in these events. Her hard work has paid off! Also in the 1500 meter, junior Gabrielle Bourgeault-Kennaley placed in the top ten but has already qualified for provincials in the 3000 meter. Longer distances are where Gabrielle shines for sure!
In the senior girls category, Charlotte Campbell placed an impressive 6th in the 800 and 5th in the 1500. Charlotte has also already earned a spot at Provincials in the 3000 meter and is a likely candidate to be open zoned in another race of her choosing.
On the boys side, bantam Kai O'Krane placed in the top 10 in the 800 while senior Austin Sutherland, who has already qualified in the 3000, placed a close 4th in the 800 (almost breaking the 2 minute barrier) and 3rd in the 1500. This means Austin is going to Provincials for both the 1500 and the 3000 meter. Since those two races are fairly grueling, it's likely Austin will decide not to be open zoned for the 800.
Former California resident Casey Lake was running a terrific race in the 1500 before, on the last lap, he had an unfortunately collision with the side rail that is on the inside corner of the track at Swangard and is now on crutches. Provided he is cleared to run by the doctor in a few weeks he is a possibility for an open zone based on his time performed at preliminaries. In the 1500 meter racewalk, Bella Hallam raced her best of the season and placed third, earning a spot at Provincials!
In the sprints, the bantam girls stole the show! Sara Fraser placed in the top 8 in the 100 meter and earned a bronze in the 80 meter hurdles. Amelia Bradecamp ran her heart out in all of her races and placed in the top 5 in both the 200 and the 400. Liz Mathisen was fourth in Ms. Ayotte's favorite race for her, the 400 meter, and earned a silver medal in the shot put. In the sprint hurdles, seniors Chloe Szybunka and Bella Hallam placed in the top 5!
In the relays, the bantam girls team, comprised of Sara Ndova-Fraser, Liz Mathisen, Amelia Bradecamp and Abbey Maeier earned a silver medal in a very close 4 x 100 meter relay (with a time well below the 1 minute mark) and a gold in the 4 x 400 meter with the same girls running.
Unfortunately, even though we qualified two teams in the 4 x 400, three of the athletes were in the play and were unable to compete in their hurdle events as well as their relay. Justine Brongers, Jett Gleason, Izzy LeMaitre and Clare Reynolds have worked hard this season and are candidates for provincials. The Grade 8 category is a bit different than seniors and junior at provincials because coaches submit performances from preliminary and zone meets and then these performances are compared to the top grade 8's in the province. The top 24 performances are then granted a spot at provincials. All of these ladies, all 8 of them, have a very good chance of going to the provincials in more than two events. Well done bantam girls!
The track is not the only spot that Collingwood athletes shone. In the bantam boys javelin, Simon Burns just keeps improving and placed a very close 5th and Andy Liang, in the junior boys long jump, was 4th overall by a nose. Again, both of these athletes still have a chance of going to provincials.
In the senior girls category, experienced thrower Caitlin Gordon was by far the most outstanding. She earned three medals overall; a silver in both discus and javelin and a gold in the shot put. Casey Thomas-Burns was ill, unfortunately, though her performances this season make her a candidate for the open zone category at provincials. Well done ladies! Both of these girls have really been leaders with the younger throwers this year and the coaches appreciate it.
The provincials take place in Langley June 1-3 and Collingwood promises to have a strong showing!
Collingwood's 4 x 400 relay team that won gold.