Palsson Elementary School held it’s annual intermediate competitive Track and Field competition on May 21 at the Cowichan Sportsplex.
Fifty-two grade 4 and 5 students competed in a possible 6 events. The long jump, ball throw, 100 m, 200 m, 600 m and the 100 m skip.
All star athletes for Grade 4 were Kaitlyn (Kate) White, Kyle McKechnie, Keegan Mckinlay and Curtis Baird.
Grade 5 all stars were Jezlyn Cardinal, Morgan Shyshka, Ethan Brown and Ryder Wise, who all qualified for the maximum entries into the Cowichan Valley School District Track & Field Competition.
The District competition was held on Friday June 7. A team of 22 qualifying athletes represented Palsson, competing against A.B. Greenwell, Discovery, Cobble Hill, Khowhemun, Somenos, Alexander and Drinkwater Elementary schools, all of which sent their top athletes to the competition.
Schools were able to enter two girls and two boys per grade for each event, for a total of 16 athletes competing in each division for each event.
Ribbons were awarded up to 8th place. Athletes were allowed to enter a maximum of three events plus a relay.
All eight of Palsson’s 100-metre sprint entrants placed in the finals. And, for the first time since 2009, a Palsson student won an Aggregate Award for top athlete.
To win the award, the athlete generally needs to place first in three events.
Grade 4 student, Kaitlyn White placed 1st in the long jump, the 100-metre and 200-metre sprints leading to her top athlete award for Grade 4 girls.
Kate also qualified for the 600-metre event, but was only able to enter a maximum of three events. The last Palsson student to win an Aggregate Award was Mackenzie Lacon, who edged out teammate Grace Matson to take the top spot for Grade 5 girls in 2009.
District Results from Palsson were exceptional, with the team placing in every division of every event except the Grade 5 girls 200-metre sprint.
Even with the absence of top athlete, Ethan Brown, Palsson had a strong showing.
— submitted Michelle Davis, teacher/coach
