On a perfect weather day last Thursday, May 30, more than 500 athletes from the ten elementary schools in the district converged on the Elphinstone track, where students tested their skills in long jump, shotput, discus and ball throws. School relays were easily the highlights of the day, along with the sprinting and distance runs.
The evening before saw the annual high jump event take place for girls and boys in grades 3 to 7. Some outstanding performances were recorded on this evening, notably Sophia O’Laughlin (Grade 6) from Halfmoon Bay, who jumped 1.37 m, breaking the previous record by 5 cm. In the Grade 3 boys’ event, Adrian Baguilod of Kinnikinnick set a new record of 1.10 m, while Will Blackman of Halfmoon Bay established a new record for Grade 7 boys at 1.35 m.
The two highlights of the evening of competition were the Grade 6 boys’ events where Lewis Campbell from Halfmoon Bay shattered last year’s previous record of 1:30 m, by jumping 1.45 m. As impressive as that was, Ashley Paulski, Grade 7 student at Gibsons, cleared 1.54 m
also beating the previous record. Clearly the athletes have been doing some serious training during the season.
None of this would have been possible without the able assistance of Elphinstone Secondary’s grade 11/12 classes, who ran the events and the concession and handed out plenty of ribbons to the competitors. A special thanks to Owen Schutz for organization, and Sarah Mani for all their support, as well.
– Submitted by Jim Gray
