Kelowna athletes golden at valley track and field

Podium finished aplenty at Okanagan championships in Kamloops

Central Okanagan athletes will be out in full force for the B.C. high school athletics championships set for June 2 to 4 in Nanaimo.

Kelowna and area competitors found their way to the podium early and often at the Okanagan Valley championships last week in Kamloops, earning berths at the upcoming provincials.

• Seniors

Seven athletes from the Central Okanagan zone were double gold-medal winners at valleys: Sean Bergman, KSS, boys 3,000 metres and the 2,000 metre steeplechase; Leah McWilliam, OKM, girls 200 and 400 metres; Jaydean Braham, Aberdeen Hall, girls triple jump and shot put; Willow Benitz, Aberdeen Hall, 800 and 1,500 metres; Steven Johnson, Mt. Boucherie, 100 and 200 metres; and Davis Hughes, RSS, 400 and 800 metres.

Athletes who on one individual gold were: Rhianne McWilliam, OKM, girls 100; Noemi Stroda, OKM, shot put; Cam Noble, OKM, boys pole vault; Brandon Harder, GES, long jump; Nick Cornell, KSS, boys hammer; and Austin Sandrin, MBSS, javelin.

• Juniors

Phoebe Price-Roberts of Aberdeen Hall led the way for Kelowna at the junior level with a triple gold-medal performance.  Price Roberts won the senior girls discus, hammer and javelin throws events.

Winning double gold were: Taryn O’Neill, GES, girls 800 and 1,500 metre, and Jesse Benneke, MBSS, 100 and 200 metres.

Other individual event winners: Taya Hanson, KSS, 400 metres; Bryan Walsh, KSS, girls 200; Kanaysha Lyder, Dr., Knox, girls 100 metres; Muriel Stroda, OKM, 80 hurdles; Rylee Paulson, GES, girls 1,500 steeplechase; Ava Kalashnikoff, Dr. Knox, 1,500 race walk; Gregor Smith, KLO, boys 400 metres; Turner Woodruff, OKM, boys 1,500; Jacob Harris, OKM, boys 3,000; Noah Russell, CNB, 300 hurdles; Kyle Barker, GES, boys javelin; Joel Aitken, KSS, triple jump; and Simon Paul, CNB, boys shot-put.

• Grade 8

Lindsay Maier of Dr. Knox and CNB’s Ashton Thorpe won double individual gold medal medals in girls Grade 8 competition at valleys.

Maier earned victories in the girls 200 and 400 metres, while Thorpe took top spot in girls javelin and discus.

Other event winners were: Abby Heinen, KCS; Abby Freeborn, Spring Valley; Finn Hussy, KLO; Jordan Barker, GES; Jaxon Slaney, RMS; Kristen Naude, KCS; Naomi Kent, KCS; and Ashley Overby,KCS.

 

Kelowna Capital News