Based on his result at the Fraser Valley High School Track and Field Championships in Abbotsford, Nathan Tadesse should contend for a gold medal at next month’s B.C. Championships.
The North Surrey Secondary student won the men’s 1,500m race in Abbotsford, his time of 3:55.31 quicker than the gold-medal time at last year’s provincials by almost a full second.
Last year, Tadesse was ninth in the 1,500m final at the provincial meet, finishing in 4:14.55. He has shaved close to 20 seconds off that time this season.
Tadesse, who has committed to join Washington State (Cougars) University track and field team in the fall, also won the gold medal in the 3,000m race in 8:51.71.
Michael Aono of Seaquam Secondary won the men’s 400m final, also establishing himself as a medal contender at the provincials. His winning time of 48.07 seconds was quicker than the 48.72 time that won the gold medal at the 2014 B.C. Championships.
Aiden Moore of Pacific Academy placed third, winning the bronze medal in 51.62 seconds.
Three other athletes battled for medal in field events in Abbotsford, finishing one-two-three in the men’s shotput.
Chitraj Dosanjh of Delview Secondary claimed the gold medal with a throw of 14.53m, edging Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary’s Ben Ingvaldson’s best throw of 14.31m. Brent Reston of Surrey Christian high school was third, earning the bronze at 12.68m.
Ingvaldson won a gold medal in the discus with a throw of 39.91m, with Dosanjh taking the bronze at 36.59m.
Reston was the gold medalist in the javelin with a throw of 52.77m.
Winning silver medals at the Fraser Valley Championships were Kenzo Los of Lord Tweedsmuir and Georgia Paterson of Princess Margaret Secondary.
Paterson placed second in the women’s long jump, leaping 5.33m, a distance that would have placed her on the podium at the provincial championships a year ago.
Los was the runner-up in the men’s 200m sprint in 22.73 seconds.
Simon Odong of Fleetwood Park Secondary was third in the men’s high jump at 1.85m.
Stephanie Mernagh of Lord Tweedsmuir also won a bronze medal with a third-place finish in the women’s 400m race in 1:02.85.
Sean Stampp of North Surrey Secondary ran the men’s 100m race in 11.56 seconds, earning the bronze medal.
Lord Tweedsmuir had four relay teams win medals. In women’s competition, they won silver medals in the 4x400m event and the 4x100m race. In the men’s 4x100m race, Lord Tweedsmuir teams placed first and third.
Holy Cross high school placed third in the men’s 4x400m.
