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Local athletes shine at North Islands

The next goal is to qualify for provincial track meet
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Ballenas Secondary runner Spencer Hancock (90) stays close to the leaders in the 3000m at the North Island Track and Field Championships in Powell River. — Robyn Elliott photo

Athletes from Ballenas and Kwalikum secondary schools excelled at the North Island Track and Field Championships.

They were among the close to 400 athletes from Grade 9 to 12 representing 32 North Island school teams that competed for honours at the annual event held at Timberlane Park, May 4, in Powell River. They posted some notable performances in both track and field events.

In the Grade 9 girls competition, KSS’ Jillian Kroemer took home gold and silver in the hammer and discus, respectively, while Joanna Waite of Ballenas took the gold in the discus and bronze in the hammer. Other top finishers include BSS’ Juliette Desvaux, who won silver in the 200m and bronze in the 400m and KSS’ Alena Woolnough, who took the silver in the hammer throw.

In the Grade 9 boys category, BSS’ Spencer Bradbury won gold in the 300m hurdles.

In the girls junior events, Ballenas’ Olivia Bau was simply dashing, winning two gold medals in the 100m and 200m. In the field events, Libby Elliott of BSS took the gold in the discus.

In the senior girls, KSS’ Meara Crottey brought home a gold and a silver in the 3000m and 1500m respectively. Fellow Kondor Serena Woolnough bagged gold in the discus and silver in the hammer while Zoey Cole of Ballenas won silver in the triple jump.

In the senior boys division, Ballenas dominated both the 100m and 200m events.

In the 100m final Gabriel Dodd set the pace and was followed by fellow Whalers Logan Pepper and Jordan Lee. Dodd also won a bronze in the javelin.

In the 200m, Simon Morrison led the way with Shane Stewart and Pepper trailing in second and third place respectively.

Ballenas’ Stewart also won the gold in the 110m hurdles while Isaac Waite took bronze in the 1500m.

In the field events, Jason Ross of Kwalikum earned two golds in the hammer and shot put. BSS’ Noah Elliott, Liviano Canil and Harrison Glass all won gold in the discus, high jump and triple jump, respectively. Canil also won bronze in the long jump.

Other medalists were BSS’ Devon Matheson, who won bronze in the shot put and Gibson Clark who took home a silver in the long jump and bronze in the triple jump.

All the athletesthat competed, except for those in Grade 9, automatically advance to the Island Track and Field Championships in Victoria this week. Only the top five finishers in the Grade 9 category get to compete at the Islands.

Robyn Elliott, one of the co-coaches, indicated the next target for the local athletes is to qualify for the provincial championships.

There will be 31 Ballenas and nine KSS athletes vying for that honour at the Islands. Only the top five finishers advance to the BC High Schools Track and Field Championships, to be held in Langley on June 1-3.