After weeks of buildup, from city championships to zone championships, the time has finally come. The British Columbia High School Track and Field Championships is finally underway in Nanaimo! This weekend will see hard battles fought and champions crowned. Day 1 is complete and we've already made a few new Provincial Champions, as well as had qualification rounds for finals to come. Let's dive into the day 1 action.
First, let's meet the provincial champions we crowned on day 1.
The meet kicked off with the 1500m Steeplechase Finals for Junior Boys and Junior Girls. In the Junior Girls race, Lienke Raath of Kamloops Christian School, still in the 8th grade, came out on top with a time of 5:12. Kefira Kamara took the silver in a time of 5:15, and Nelle Liefsoens the bronze in 5:22. In the Junior Boys Race, it was Elijah Clarke of Burnaby North Secondary who became the new provincial champion. Rhys Beaudoin and Kouken Narbett rounded out the podium with times of 4:33 and 4:38, respectively.
The Grade 8 4x100m relay finals also took place on day 1. In the girls race, Peter Ewart Middle School took the win with a 52.90 second run, the only team under 53 seconds. In the boys race, Saint Andrew's Regional High School won the event with a time of 48.36, in a tight race where the top 6 teams all clocked sub-49 times.
Our other track finals today were the grade 8 1500 meter finals. In the Grade 8 Girls race, Charlotte Lang went sub-5 to take the crown in 4:58. In the Grade 8 Boys race, just a half second separated the top two athletes, with Sebastian Osiowy winning the battle to the line.
Out in the field, several winners rose to the occasion.
In the Senior Girls Long Jump, last year's bronze medallist in the event upgraded to a gold. Marlena Tresnjo, also this year's heptathlon champion, took home the gold ahead of Ludovica Avigni and Jasleen Nagra. In the Junior Boys Long Jump, Makaio Maver won the title with a leap of 6.48m. Kevin Malo took the silver and Gabriel Akuffo the bronze.
The sand pit also saw triple jump get underway on day 1. In the Junior Girls Triple Jump, Linda Zhou leapt to an 11.32m jump that earned her the title of provincial champion. Treah Bennett jumped 11.17m for the silver, just toeing Vanessa Pang, who took bronze with a jump of 11.16m. In the Grade 8 Boys Triple Jump, Finnley Nesdoly soared to an 11.54m jump for the gold.
Rounding out the day 1 jumps was the Grade 8 High Jump, where in a nail-biting competition, the boys podium was decided on countback. All three medallists jumped 1.60m, with Cole Lepin taking the title.
There was plenty of throwing action on day 1 as well.
In the Senior Girls Shot Put, Karina Becker of Revelstoke put in a dominant performance to win the title with a throw of 11.78m. Gurleen Mander took the silver with a throw of 10.56, and Sarah Ude the bronze with a throw of 9.90m. In the Junior Girls competition, Talia Phangura successfully defended her title with a throw of 14.91m, while Natalie Franke upgraded her bronze from last year to a silver with a throw of 12.45m. In the Grade 8 Girls competition, Hailey Hystek won the championship with a throw of 9.66m.
The Senior Women's Javelin came down to a matter of centimetres. Erika Burry was crowned provincial champion with a throw of 37.95m, while Demetra Trimis claimed silver with a 37.92m toss. Elan Huen took the final podium spot with a throw of 36.96m. In the Grade 8 Boys competition, Kenji Sancha won the event by over a meter, throwing 34.89m.
Roman Yeterian continued his season's winning streak in the Senior Boys Discus, throwing 42.06m. Cole Presley was second with a throw of 41.66m, and Janek Kaila took third with a throw of 37.30m. In another circle event, the Junior Boys Hammer, Chase Longley won the gold after winning the silver in the event last year, with a throw of 53.90m. Gursher Gabri, last year's champion, took silver with a throw of 51.23m.