Athletes from South Surrey and Cloverdale schools spent plenty of time on the podium last week, at Fraser Valley Track and Field Championships in Abbotsford.
Leading the procession to the podium were a handful of Semiahmoo Totems – Chelsea Ribiero won gold in the girls 1,500-m steeplechase and took home silver in the junior girls 3,000-m run, while her Semi teammate Dominika Paige won bronze in the 1,500-m steeplechase.
Richard Roberts also won silver in the senior boys 400-m hurdles, while junior athletes Julia Greer and Katherine Reiss also came home with medals. Greer won a pair of silvers – in the 800- and 1,500-m races – while Reiss finished second in the junior girls triple jump.
Semiahmoo also fared well at the Grade 8 level, with Dawson Ribiero winning double gold – in the boys 1,500- and 3,000-m events – and adding a bronze in the 1,500-m steeplechase. Luke Forsythe also won three medals, claiming silver in the Grade 8 boys 1,500-m run and bronze in both the 800- and 3,00-m.
Rounding out the Grade 8 Totems were Megan Samson, who won bronze in the 800- and 1,500-m races; Jessica Williams, who won gold in girls 400-m and bronze in the 80-m hurdles; and Connor Sinclair who was first in shot-put and third in discus.
Elgin Park also had a number of athletes return with medals, including Jake Hanna, who was first in the senior boys 400-m and second in the 200-m; Lexy Reimer, who won the junior girls 200-m dash and was second in the 100-m; and Reta Dobie, third in senior girls 800-m.
Nicole Cremer also snagged a podium spot, placing third in the senior girls 1,500-m race walk.
At the Grade 8 level, Danielle Steer won gold in the 800-m and silver in the high jump.
Earl Marriott Secondary athletes also got into the mix, led by Kathryn Van Ryswyk, who scooped two gold medals at the senior level. Van Ryswyk took top spot in the pole vault – clearing the bar at 3.51 metres – as well as in the 100-m hurdles.
Senior Ally Ginther, who will compete next year at the University of Idaho, won two silver medals, in the 1,500- and 3,000-m.
Rounding out the senior contingent was Sarah Korpach, with a gold medal in the 400-m hurdles and bronze in the 400-m run, and Taylor Neveu, who won bronze in the high jump.
At the junior level, Jade Duncanson won gold in the 100-m dash, and Matthew McLean won gold in the 200-m and silver in the 100-m.
In Grade 8 events, Lisa Seidelmann won bronze in the 200-m and Jorden Hall won three medals – gold in the girls high jump and 200-m, and silver in the 100-m.
Jasmine Grant was among the top athletes from Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary, as she captured gold in both the senior girls 200- and 400-m events.
Sarah Buckingham also won a gold medal, in the senior girls triple jump, while Isaah Brown won bronze in the senior boys long jump and Colin Rudman won silver in high jump.
Junior thrower Ben Ingvaldson also had a big day, winning gold in the junior boys shot-put and discus, and finishing third in hammer throw.
In Grade 8, Daniel Jirava was second in discus, Ansah Odom was third in girls long jump; Drey Blair was third in the 100-m dash and Michaela Creedy second in girls discus.
Two White Rock Christian Academy students also won medals.
Junior Riley Becker won gold in the 1,500-m race walk, while Nolan Schneider won silver in the junior boys hammer throw.
Just one student from Panorama Ridge was entered into the event – Grade 8 Abdou-Arrahim Benbrik.
Benbrik competed in three events, winning silver in the 200-m.
Next up for qualified athletes is B.C. High School Track and Field Championships, which are set for May 31-June 1 in Langley.