The Surrey Championships took place this past week in the gorgeous sunshine at South Surrey Athletic Park and were our first glimpse at what will be an exciting few weeks of Zone Championships ahead. Hundreds of athletes took to the track and the field to compete for spots at the South Fraser Zone Championships in two weeks time, taking advantage of the favourable weather to put in some excellent marks. While there were many, here are just a few of the outstanding performances and athletes to look out for as they continue on at the zone championships from the past week.
The girls throws champions Talia Phangura and Gurleen Mander showed that they are ready to defend their provincial titles from last season with dominant performances in the Junior and Senior throws, respectively. Phangura won the discus competition by over 12m, the shot put by over 2m, and the hammer by a phenomenal 19m, throwing 55.04m in that event. A remarkable week overall for the defending BC Junior Girls shot put and discus champion. Mander, last year a Junior Girls provincial champion in the hammer and silver medalist in the shot put and discus, dominated the Senior Girls throws. Mander won the hammer, shot put, and discus competitions with comfortable margins of 8m, nearly 2m, and 12m, respectively.
On the boys side, Junior Gursher Gabri, 2023 Provincial Champion in the hammer throw, also completed the triple. Gabri won the discus by 20m, the shot put by 4m, and the hammer with an incredible throw of 56.38m, nearly 10m further than the throw that won him the provincial title last year.
On the track, Oluwaniyimi Fagbamiye of Holy Cross ran an outstanding wind legal 11.01 to win the Senior Boys 100m by half a second. Fagbamiye was 5th at last years provincial championships, but this run puts him in the hunt for a podium finish this year, based on last year's results. Fagbamiye doubled back to take the 200m title as well, with a margin of 6 tenths of a second and a time of 22.92. A triple champion this week as well, Fagbamiye also took the 110m hurdles title in a time of 14.75 into a slight headwind, and looks in great form to challenge for the win in the event at provincials, having taken the silver medal home last year.
There were also notable performances in the girls 400m races. Junior Madeline VanSpall, 2023 Provincial bronze medalist at the distance, ran a 57.88 to take the win by 5 seconds. Vanspall also won the Junior Girls 200m. In the Senior Girls race, Arden Mathis ran 59.88 for the win, 2 seconds ahead of silver medallist and 800m champion Veronica Dee. Mathis also took the win in the 400m hurdles.