On Saturday, May 16, eleven Georgian Bay Coyote runners travelled to Nelson High School in Burlington to participate in the 34th Annual Gord Rusby Memorial Track and Field Meet.
The morning was beautiful, and spirits were high as the team warmed up for the first meet of the outdoor season.
The Tykes started the day with the 1200m race, featuring Ella Cleland and Lena Orosz in the girls’ heat. Ella, now a veteran racer, stayed with the lead pack, paced herself well, and placed second. Lena, who toed the line for the first time, stayed on the heels of a Toronto Olympic Club runner and crossed the line in fifth place. Alex Brown was excited to run his first race since cross-country season and see where his training had taken him. He started out at a full sprint before settling into a more reasonable pace by the 200m mark. Alex showed a steely determination to stay with the leader of the race, crossing the line having given everything he had. Incredibly, his gutsy race execution knocked over one minute and twenty seconds off his previous best time and helped him earn a third-place medal.
The Atom racers were next to compete in the 1500m race. Eve Tudor ran in the first girls’ heat and used a strong, steady stride to keep a Newmarket Huskies racer within striking distance. She sprinted to the line to take second in her heat, knocking seventeen seconds off her previous best time. Iris Herman took her place in the second girls’ heat and, for the first time, found herself in the fast heat, battling for space and positioning. Iris seemed energized by the intensity of the race, making strategic passes and kicking her pacing into a new gear. Coaches watched closely to see how her tactics would play out and were delighted to see Iris tear up the track, earning a 24-second personal best and fourth place overall.
The Atom boys, Casey Mothersell, Caleb Cleland, and Oliver Fisher, were next to take part in the action. Caleb and Casey once again proved to be excellent training partners for each other as they took off hard and settled into the race with Casey leading the pair in the longer distance event. Casey made some smart tactical moves, staying behind a larger competitor and letting him block the wind. He put on a strong finishing sprint and just missed third place but earned himself a new personal best. Caleb’s finishing lap was his fastest of the race and helped him maintain fifth place while knocking seventeen seconds off his previous best time. Oliver, who is new to the racing world, gained valuable experience and finished strong with an excellent sprint to the line.
The Senior girls, Madelyn Moores, Avery McPhatter, and Mila Dolan, rounded out the morning distance races. Madelyn had a very tight race with Toronto West’s Nicole Coutinho, finishing just two tenths of a second behind her to take second in her heat. Along the way, she shaved six seconds off her personal best. Mila and Avery played a bit of cat and mouse throughout the race, keeping coaches watching closely as they came down the final 100m stretch. Mila managed to hold off Avery, though it was an especially joyful finish as Avery smashed the six-minute barrier that had eluded her in the 1500m for quite some time.
Tyke runner Lena Orosz laced up once again to race the 400m as thunderstorms rolled in. She did not let the rain stop her from running another strong race.
Unfortunately, the meet proceedings had to pause as athletes and parents took shelter under tents while winds picked up, lightning flashed, and heavy rain swept through the stadium. Thankfully, officials worked efficiently and had the meet running again as soon as conditions were safe.
The 800m races began with Ella Cleland and Lena Orosz competing in the Tyke girls’ heat. Both girls posted strong times, with Ella claiming third place.
Eve Tudor and Iris Herman raced in the fast heat of the Atom girls’ category against some very speedy competitors. The challenge proved beneficial for both girls as they each crossed the line with their second personal bests of the day.
Atom boys Casey Mothersell and Caleb Cleland battled it out again in the 800m race. Caleb got out quickly and found an opening on the inside lane, while Casey had to work a little harder to secure his position. Caleb found himself head-to-head with friendly rival Edward Scratch from Toronto West. Both boys dashed to the line, with Edward just managing to edge Caleb at the finish. Casey was hot on their tails, and the Coyotes earned fourth- and fifth-place finishes along with more personal bests.
Madelyn Moores, Avery McPhatter, and Mila Dolan lined up in the first heat of the Senior girls’ 800m race to round out the day. All three girls looked strong and determined amongst some of Ontario’s top young athletes. Madelyn faced a difficult start after getting boxed in behind a pack of runners and having to surge to get around them. She showed tremendous determination right down to the final strides as she battled a Burlington runner to the line. The finish was truly a photo finish, leaving coaches unsure of the outcome until officials announced that the Burlington athlete had crossed just one tenth of a second ahead of Madelyn. Avery crossed next, with Mila not far behind, capping off a well-fought race all around.
“This ‘rust-buster’ meet was an exceptional display of the talent and determination of these young athletes. Coaches left feeling incredibly proud after witnessing seventeen new personal bests across twenty-one races — a remarkable achievement. Congratulations to all of our young racers,” said the team.
To learn more about the team, please visit: www.georgianbaycoyotes.com
