The Charles Hays Secondary track team sprinted to the podium this weekend, with their sights set firmly on provincials. They were competing in the Annual 2016 Prince Rupert Track and Field Meet.
Charles Hays coach Dighton Haynes explained how the breakdown of team members works this year. “There are 22 athletes on the team. Cody Schaeffer, Jason Rioux, Maddie Abrahams, and Jessica Nguyen are the returnees. Most of the team are boys, with 18 boys and 4 girls. We have an even split between junior and senior. There is only one Grade 8, Shawn, who is from Annunciation school.” The day started with the Steeplechase, and ended with the 4X100M Relay.
After a strong showing this past weekend at the meet, Haynes commented about the teams schedule and expectations.
“We travel to Kamloops next weekend, the zones in Smithers is May 20 – 21 and provincials in Langley are from June 2 – 4. We could have a small number who qualify for provincials or a large number of athletes, it’s difficult to say so early in the season. We practice four times a week, Monday to Thursday, from 3:30 until 5 p.m.”
First-place finishers at the meet included Jessica Nguyen in the Junior Girls High Jump, 80 Meter Hurdles and 100 Meter Dash, Kohen Chan in the Junior Boys 100 Meter Dash and Jason Rioux won the Senior Boys High and Long Jump and 100 and 200 Meter Dash. Luis Martin-Hurtado won the Senior Boys 1500 Meter Race, Maddie Abrahams won the Junior Girls 200 Meter Dash, Seji Sahdra took first in the Junior Boys 200 Meter Dash and Avery Taylor won the Senior Boys 800 Meter Race.
Shawn Sahai won Grade 8 Boys Discus and Javelin, Dominic Irvine won Senior Boys Discus, Shot Put and Javelin, Ashton Ryan won Junior Boys Shot Put, Eric Lees won Junior Boys High Jump, Henry Vo won the Junior Boys Long Jump, Ezekial Appollos won the Junior Boys Discus, and Angel Hoff won Senior Girls Discus.
“We had 40 volunteers, about half were students and the rest parents and teachers running the events,” said coach Haynes. “Without all the volunteers the meet would not have been successful.”
Centennial School, Skeena Middle School and Coast Tsimshian Academy also took part in the track meet held at Charles Hays Secondary.
