Last week’s Fraser Valley Track and Field Championships, held in Langley, may have been won by one of the hometown schools, but Peninsula athletes fared well, too, scooping individual honours in a number of sports.
A pair of Earl Marriott Secondary athletes were the most decorated of all south-end athletes after the two-day event, which was held May 15 and 17 at Langley’s McLeod Park.
Kathryn Van Ryswyk picked up a pair of gold medals, winning both the girls 14-18 year-old 100-m hurdles and also the pole vault.
Van Ryswyk’s EMS teammate, Grade 12 runner Deon Clifford, also scooped gold at McLeod Park, winning the boys steeplechase with a time of six minutes, 11.87 seconds. He added a silver medal, too, in the 3,000-m, finishing less than five seconds behind winner Timothy Delcourt of Kwantlen Park.
Other Marriott students to finish on the podium were Ally Ginther, who placed second in the girls 3,000-m – she was also fourth in the 1,500-m – and Taylor Neveu, who took top spot in the senior girls high jump, clearing the bar at 1.55 m, edging Walnut Grove’s Shelby Smithson, who finished second at 1.5 m.
The Walnut Grove Gators won the overall team title, capturing 14 total medals.
A trio of Elgin Park students also found their way onto the podium. Nicole Cremer won bronze in the girls 1,500-m race-walk, while Max Hanna placed first in the boys javelin throw, with a gold-medal-winning toss of 54.64 m.
Richard Roberts was the top athlete from Semiahmoo Secondary at Fraser Valleys, winning a silver medal in the boys triple jump and bronze in the 400-m hurdles.
Also finishing on the podium was Semi middle-distance runner Alison Williams, who placed second in the girls 800-m, clocking a time of 2:16.82.
White Rock Christian Academy picked up two gold medals, from Luke Gin in the boys 1,500-m race-walk and Jordan Watson in the high jump.
Competitors from Cloverdale’s Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary also had their fair share of podium finishers, lead by Ben Ingvaldson, who won gold in the discus and hammer throw, while placing second in the shotput.
Rounding out the Tweedsmuir medal haul was Sarah Buckingham, first in triple jump; Allison Gallaugher, first in long jump; Jasmine Grant, third in 100-m dash; Liam McKay, second in 800-m; and Nick Smith, third in high jump.
Athletes now advance to BC High School Track and Field Championships, slated for June 1-2 at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium.
In addition to the Fraser Valley meet for senior students, last weekend’s two-day event was also a BC Summer Games qualifier for those athletes in Grade 8 and 9.
The meet – which was a mix of school- and club-affiliated athletes – was highlighted by Elgin Park’s Jake Hanna, who won four gold medals. Hanna was first in both 100- and 200-m hurdles, and both the 200- and 300-m.
Elgin Park also finished first in t he boys 4x400-m relay.
Three Semiahmoo athletes also fared well: Julia Greer won gold in girls 800-m and silver in the 1,200-m; Katherine Reiss won gold in triple jump and Chelsea Ribiero won double-gold, placing first in the 1,200-m and 2,000-m.
Earl Marriott’s Matthew McLean also won silver in the boys 100-m dash.
The BC Summer Games are to be held in Surrey, July 19-22.
For full results from the Valley meet, visit www.fraservalleytrack.com