On Sunday, March 15, nine young Georgian Bay Coyotes travelled to the Toronto Track and Field Centre at York University to take part in the United Tamil Sports Club 20th Year Jubilee Meet. Over 580 athletes from 49 different track clubs across Ontario participated in this prep meet, and it was a great opportunity for our local athletes to test their training before the MTA Provincial Championships in just under a month’s time.
The day began with the 1200m races. Ella Cleland was nervous about her first attempt at this longer distance and paced herself cautiously after completing a strong first lap. She held steady splits and crossed the line in third place, with a large lead over the next closest competitor.
Eve Tudor, a newer runner with the club, was up next and ready to race at her first indoor track meet. Like Ella, she ran a carefully paced race and crossed the line with some left in the tank. It was an excellent racing debut.
Casey Mothersell and Caleb Cleland were next to represent the team in the 1500m. They started a bit fast, and Casey’s pace slowed slightly during the middle laps. A strange sprint on the fifth lap had coaches concerned, and they encouraged the athletes to finish their final two laps. They later learned that officials had mistakenly posted the incorrect laps remaining in the race, confusing the athletes. Despite this unfortunate turn of events, Casey and Caleb finished well and came away with second and third place respectively.
Avery McPhatter and Madelyn Moores raced in the Senior Girls division of the 1500m. Avery was determined to crack the six-minute mark that had been just out of reach for her. While she maintained a strong pace, she narrowly missed her goal by just over two tenths of a second. Teammate Madelyn Moores, a fiercely determined young athlete, raced well and shaved two seconds off her personal best time, earning a third-place medal.
Senior boy Richard Saunders toed the line ready to break the five-minute mark in the 1500m. He engaged in some tough cat-and-mouse racing with an Etobicoke Track runner throughout the race, and the two pushed hard to the finish line, both crossing in under five minutes. Richard earned a silver medal for his performance.
Following the 1500m, the team’s youngest racers, Abbey and Sadie Simpson, warmed up for their first track race, the Mite Girls 400m. With only road training under their belts, racing in lanes and cutting into lane one after the first lap was a bit daunting. Both girls rose to the challenge and did their best. Their hard work earned Abbey a bronze medal and Sadie a fourth-place ribbon.
After the lunch break, all nine racers laced up for the 800m event. Mite girls Abbey and Sadie Simpson were back on the line to get things rolling. They set out at a pace they were able to maintain over the course of the four-lap race and crossed the finish line with smiles. They left the track weighed down by more medals as Abbey took second place and Sadie took third.
Tyke girl Ella Cleland got off to a good start in her 800m race. As the younger athlete in the category, she fought hard to stay with the lead pack. She held third place for much of the race, but in the final thirty meters Etobicoke Track’s Kalliopi Bournakas caught up and out-sprinted her by two-tenths of a second, placing Ella fourth.
Eve Tudor looked more confident as she toed the line for her second indoor track race. She started a bit hard but then settled into a comfortable position at the back of the pack. She saved some energy for a beautiful finishing kick that saw her pass three competitors.
Atom boys Casey Mothersell and Caleb Cleland proved to be each other’s best competition during their four-lap 800m run. They crossed the finish line just over six-tenths of a second apart, proudly taking second and third place.
Madelyn Moores was placed in a fast heat of Senior Girls. Her newest personal best had moved her into the faster heat, and she raced smartly, knowing her pace and settling in behind the others. She crossed the finish line knocking another second and a half off her previous best and gaining valuable racing experience. Teammate Avery McPhatter competed in the slower of the two heats and found herself leading the pack. She fought hard and finished just shy of her personal best.
To wrap up the day, Richard Saunders lined up for the 800m alongside three different age groups of boys, of which he was the youngest. This required careful pacing, and his years of racing and training showed as he went out and ran his own race. It was a good challenge to compete alongside older and faster athletes, and Richard pushed himself to do his best, knocking fourteen seconds off his previous personal best time.
“The day was quite a success for our nine Coyotes. They brought home valuable racing experience along with eleven medals and three ribbons. Our small team also racked up enough points to rank eighth out of twenty-one teams, quite an achievement for such a small group of athletes,” said team coaches.
To learn more about the team, please visit their website: www.georgianbaycoyotes.com
