Staff
The Georgian Bay Coyotes had seven of their high school runners competing throughout the area in their school district track and field championships on Wednesday, May 23, and Thursday, May 24.
They all competed last week and had to place in the top four of their local area meet to compete this week at their District Championships, with most placing in the top three spots. With a tough road to eventually compete at the OFSAA Provincial Championships, athletes are competing each week, so the goal is not necessarily to run as fast as you can, but to run smart, run just fast enough as you need to run, and make sure you qualify for the next round.
At the CWOSSA Track and Field Championships held in Kincardine, the Coyotes had six members step up to the line in various events.
Grade 9 Midget:
On Wednesday, May 23, Ethan Pentland, a grade 9 Durham student, placed second in the Midget Boys 1500m, comfortably crossing the line in 4:22.11. Kurt Indoe, a grade 9 student from Shallow Lake, took to the track in the Midget Boys 3000m event. His personal best time of 12:16.37 gave him 16th spot.
Grade 10 Junior:
Prior to his 1500m, Spencer Book from Meaford ran a 400m race as a “warm-up” and cruised through the race in 1:00.74 to take 11th spot. He then lined up for the 1500m and cruised to a 4th spot performance of 4:25.63. In the Junior Girls 1500m had Alex Scheifele of Owen Sound and Meaford’s Hannah Knight laced up. Hannah stopped the clock in a personal best time of 5:35.39 to capture 9th spot and Alex’s time of 6:02.55 placed her 11th.
On Thursday, Spencer Book competed in his strongest event, the Junior 800m. His time of 2:03.72 was good enough to give him 3rd spot. Hannah Knight also competed again on Thursday in the 3000m race. Her personal best time of 11:53.04 placed her 7th overall.
Grade 11-13 Senior:
Grade 12 Owen Sound student, Julia Latham, laced up in the 800m event on Thursday. She had a good first lap, but fell back on her 2nd lap to finish in 10th spot with a time of 2:45.26.
At the GBSSA Track and Field Championships were held in Toronto on Wednesday, May 23rd, which included the Simcoe area.
Grade 9 Midget:
On Wednesday, May 23rd, Coldwater student Olivia Karn competed in four events. She placed 3rd in the Midget Girls 200m with a personal best time of 27.38. She placed 3rd in the Midget Girls 400m, again with a new best time of 1:03.81. Olivia also had a 4th place finish in the Midget Girls 800m, stopping the clock in her best time this year of 2:28.92. She completed her day being part of the 4x400m Open Girls relay team that placed 1st with a time of 4:17.51.
“Congrats to ALL our high school Coyotes who competed,” offered team coach Kevin Hooper. “Special congrats to Olivia Karn, Ethan Pentland and Spencer Book. All three placed in the top-5 and have advanced to their respective OFSAA Regional Championships on Friday, June 1st and Saturday, June 2nd.”
Photo: Olivia Karn, Spencer Book and Ethan Pentland from the Georgian Bay Coyotes Track Club all advance to the OFSAA Regional Track and Field Championships on June 1-2 as they represent their respective high schools.
