Island Athletes Shine Ahead of BC Championships in Nanaimo


Junior Rhys Beaudoin took home three gold medals, winning the Junior Boys 800m, 1500m, and Steeplechase. Beaudoin was close to breaking the 2-minute mark in the 800, and won the steeplechase by over 10 seconds. Indie Cudmore, a two-time grade 8 provincial champion, also earned a triple crown, winning the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m. Cudmore was the only athlete to break the 5-minute mark in the 1500m race, with a time of 4:54. 

Out in the field, there were plenty of nail-biting competitions. In a thrillingly tight competition decided on countback, Sacha Therrian won the Senior Boys High Jump with Leupold Wang taking the silver, both having cleared 1.85m. Therrian also won the pole vault with a vault of 3.30m, with Wang winning the triple jump with a leap of 12.86m into a heavy -2.4m/s headwind. 

In the Senior Girls Hammer Throw, Katelyn Putz had a notable throw of 44.41m, winning the event by 7m and putting herself in contention for the provincial podium. Alexander Cheung similarly launched himself into gold medal contention with a huge throw in the Junior Boys Discus of 39.39m. Meanwhile, in the Senior Boys Javelin, Travis Harfield out threw the reigning provincial silver medalist Kayden U-Ming with a throw of 64.71m, a throw which would have won provincials last year. 

In the sand pit, Anthony Roberts took home a pair of Junior Boys titles in the long jump and triple jump. Robert's triple jump mark of 12.40m won the competition by nearly a meter and puts the podium in sight at provincials. 

The athletes this week got a taste of what it might be like to compete in- and possibly win provincials at home this year. As BC's best athletes descend upon the island for the provincial championships, these island athletes will be hoping for a little home track magic.