Coast track and field athletes from all three high schools had an impressive season on the North Shore, leading to several top performances at both the zone finals May 19 and provincial championships June 3 and 4.
Elphinstone, coached by Lexa Pomfret, Tom Daniels and Kree Girard, had another strong season, sending 26 athletes to the zone finals at Swangard Stadium.
Talia Barnum, in her first year of high school competition, won the bantam girls' aggregate award, finishing first in all three of her events, the 100m, 200m and javelin. Joining her atop the standings was senior Sam Garmulewicz, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints on his way to claim the senior boys' aggregate award.
Elphi had many more podium finishes, including Katie Russell (second in the 100m and 200m), Sophie Garmulewicz (first in 80m hurdles, third in 100m), Robin Maser Housden (first in 1500m racewalk), Felix Rankin (first in the 100m, second in long jump, third in 200m) and Brandy Perry (first in discus and shot put).
At the end of the day, Elphi finished third of the AA schools, behind St. Thomas Aquinas and Rockridge, and fifth overall.
Caleb Burnham from Chatelech joined Sam and Felix in being recognized as one of the top sprinters on the North Shore. Caleb, coached by Mokie Burnham, finished first in the 200m and 400m and second in the 100m, turning in some very fast times.
"Felix and Caleb have quite the sprint rivalry going on right now," said Daniels. "They train together at least once a week, warm up together at the meets, but once in the blocks it's all business. They seem to switch who wins, trading almost race by race. It's a very healthy competition, each athlete pushing the other."
Joining Caleb at the zones from Chat was Maeve Talbot Kelly, who finished sixth in the senior girls' 1500m.
Pender Harbour was also represented at the zones, with Mackenzie Stewart showing her potential as a promising multi-event athlete, taking first in the high jump and second in the 80m hurdles and 400m hurdles.
"Mackenzie has very quickly developed into a top track and field athlete," said Pender coach John Smith. "Her experiences last year at the BC Summer Games had a positive effect on her training and performance. It would be nice to see her continue competing as a multi-event athlete over the next few years."
Also competing from Pender were Angus Marshall (seventh in the 100m, sixth in the 200m) and Solveigh Van Wersch (eighth in high jump).
At the provincials, Sam was hoping to make the finals in both the 100m and 200m. He was about as close as can be, finishing ninth in the 200m with a personal best time of 23.31 seconds, and 11th in the 100m, a mere .04 seconds from the top eight. Joining Sam were Katie (100m, 200m, relays), Alex Cloherty (400m, relays), Etta Degnan (1500m, relays), Sara Perry (javelin), Julie Beadle (javelin, relays) and Lucy Wilson and Hailey Perry in the relays.
The Grade 8/9 invitational portion of the provincials saw athletes from all three high schools in competition.
Felix and Caleb continued their sprint rivalry in the 100m, with Felix edging Caleb for the silver medal and Caleb earning the bronze.
Caleb also earned the bronze in the 200m at this unofficial provincial championship for the younger athletes.
Mackenzie finished sixth in high jump and had a personal best time of 13.64 in the 80m hurdles, while Evan Sorensen of Elphi placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 36.07m. Rounding out the Coast contingent were Sophie (80m hurdles) and Talia Barnum (100m).
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