The next generation of British Columbia track and field stars will be front and centre at South Surrey Athletic Park this weekend.
Beginning tonight (Friday), at 6-8 p.m., and continuing Saturday and Sunday – from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day – South Surrey-based Ocean Athletics Track Club will host the 2016 BC Junior Development Track and Field Championship.
The event will feature some of the province’s top nine- to 13-year-old athletes; the annual meet regularly attracts 400 athletes to the host community, according to Ocean Athletics’ Maureen de St. Croix, one of the meet organizers.
The three-day championship will feature a wide array of events, from sprints and middle-distance running to hurdles and three three jumping disciplines – long, triple and high.
Ocean Athletics will have a large roster of competitors in the field this weekend – many of whom are top contenders in their respective sports, de St. Croix said.
Owen Pinto – second-ranked in his age group provincially – will vie for a medal in both the 800-m and 1,200-m races; Lindsey Cyr is a top-ranked shot-putter; Emma de Boer is No. 1 in high-jump; and other podium contenders include Nicholas Pavlovic (100-m, 200-m, long jump); Laysa Tunti (80-m hurdles, 100-m, 200-m); Ryan Cyr (discus, shotput) and Vanessa Pinto, who is currently B.C.’s top-ranked 1,000-m runner among 2007-born competitors.