Track and field athletes from Gibsons Elementary wrapped up another successful season. The program started in September with the cross-country season and saw athletes from Gibsons Elementary take part in the district fun day.
They also attended the Junior Olympics at Bear Creek Park in Surrey, the BC Elementary School Provincial Championships at Minoru Park in Richmond, the Jesse Bent Memorial at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam and the Pacific Invitational in Langley.
The athletes who represented Gibsons Elementary won medals at every event.
At the provincials, two new track athletes took medals. Wes Obeck in Grade 3 took second in sprint hurdles, and Ashley Parulski in Grade 6 took third in high jump. All other athletes took home ribbons from their respective events with top finishes in the province.
The school team trains five days a week in events such as race walking, javelin and hurdles, as well as the traditional sprints, middle distance and field events. The club has benefited from the additional help this year from Oona Taggart and Rochelle Turenne in long jump.
Highlights were listening to Olympic gold medalist Robert Esmie at the Junior Olympics and having Evan Dunfee, Canadian Olympian from Rio and current Canadian record holder, helping with coaching tips for Ethan Sullivan in the 1,000m at provincials.
Samuel Uwa finished his fastest 100m final of the season with the three fastest boys in BC having to be decided in a photo finish at the Junior Olympics as they were within 100ths of a second of each other.
Special thanks to School District No. 46 (SD46) for investing in a District Membership to BC Athletics which gives access to all students from the Sunshine Coast to any school event sanctioned by BC Athletics. SD46 also worked with BC Athletics to train 10 new track coaches on the Sunshine Coast, all now with their NCCP Level 1 certificate. This training has allowed athletes at Gibsons to flourish. They now look to set goals for next year to improve upon personal bests. It only takes a spark to ignite a dream.
– Submitted by Eric Sullivan
