By Zachary Quevillon
The stakes were high and stress levels even higher this week in Belleville at the East Regional Championships. Over 80 (Yes, you read that right!) Lions traveled with their school teams to take a crack at qualifying for the OFSAA Championships next week in Guelph, Ontario. A top four finish was enough to punch their ticket. Despite several heartbreaking fifth place finishers, 55 athletes are moving on.
The highlights started Thursday evening with Luca Nicoletti continuing his record setting streak in the 300m hurdles as he won in a time of 41.09 seconds. In the 100mh, Nicoletti would out lean training partner Andile Mabaleka for the win – 13.84 to 13.88 seconds. Both boys smashed the old standard of 14.12.
There were several loud cheers at the junior girls pole vault on Thursday night as Chloe Maine and Amelia Wojtyk took turns breaking the previous meet best of 3.00m. Amelia would finish with the new record height of 3.20m while Chloe was second with 3.10m.
The 400m runners had their work cut out for them as strong winds met them down the back stretch. However, that didn’t stop Emily Brennan (61.09), Audrey Gilmour (58.33), and Helena Jovic (57.75) from all claiming gold in their respective age categories.
Yannick Meredith cruised to easy victories in the midget boys 400m and 800m. The cross country OFSAA medalist will undoubtedly challenge for more hardware next weekend.
Keito Newman and Matthew Needham were in a head to head for the junior boys 100m hurdles title. Newman (14.22 seconds) claimed victory with Needham (14.36) nabbing the silver medal.
Completing the 1-2 theme in the senior boys 110m hurdles were Lee Jean and David Adeleye. This week, it was Lee who came out on top with a blistering time of 14.31 seconds to David’s 14.47. Lee was also victorious in the 400m hurdles.
Helena Jovic continued to display great range as she added to her 400m victory with a convincing win in the 400m hurdle event.
Training partners Jack Link and Manuel Fernandez timed a perfect kick to slide into qualifying positions in the midget boys 1500m.
Be sure to come and see all the talent on display at our Twilight Meet series starting on June 12th!
A massive thank you from all of the athletes to their respective high school coaches. Without them, this exciting season would not take place!
Midget Girls
Emily Brennan 300mh + 400m
Samantha Sharp 400m
Gillian Porter 800m + 1500m
Charlotte Murchison 800m
Eleanor Hall 80mh + Triple Jump
Junior Girls
Katie Manor 100m + 4x100m relay
Audrey Gilmour 100m + 400m
Ellie Munro 100m + 200m + 4x400m relay
Mattson Strickler 400m
Zoe Gardiner 800m + 1500m
Vienna Courteau 80mh + LJ
Samantha Wiseberg 300mh
Jalena Marelic 4x100m relay
Ella Gilbert 4x100m relay
Amelia Wojtyk PV (Record)
Chloe Maine PV (Also surpassed old record)
Senior Girls
Paulina Procyk 100m + 4x400m relay
Helena Jovic 200m + 400m + 400mh
Doyin Ogunremi 400m
Olivia Macaskill 1500m
Katie Newlove 3000m
Skye Pellerin 3000m + 2000m Steeple Chase
Eleni Pantieras PV
Emma Dobson Takoff Triple Jump
Erin Sweeney Shot Put
Madison Maclean Shot Put + Javelin
Brianna Asiamah Shot Put
Kaitlyn Effenberger Shot Put
Caitlin McMann 4x400m relay
Midget Boys
Luca Nicoletti 100m + 100mh (Record) + 300mh (record)
Yannick Meredith 400m + 800m + 4x100m relay
Thomas Kukla Colby 400m
Jack Link 1500m
Manuel Fernandez 1500m
Kyle Porter 3000m
Andile Mabaleka 100mh (also surpassed old record) + 300mh
Charles Asselin 4x100m relay
Junior Boys
Dani Hassan 100m + 200m + 4x100m relay
Donovan Tran 100m
Sam Robinson 200m
Liam Lemery 800m
Keaton McGrath 800m
Keito Newman 100mh + 300mh
Matthew Needham 100mh
Alexander Cholmsky 4x100m relay
Reggie Bruno High Jump + Long Jump
Senior Boys
Zach Meredith 800m
Joe Fast 1500m + 3000m
Leewinchell Jean 110mh + 400mh
David Adeleye 110mh
Jesus Bustillos Pole Vault
Joshua Foster Long Jump + Triple Jump
Brandon Ovington Shot Put + Discus
Wariso Dullo Javelin
Will Cox 2000m Steeplechase
Kevin Robertson Steeplechase + 3000m
