SD83 students qualify for provincials!
Students from Eagle River, A.L. Fortune, Pleasant Valley, Jackson, and Sullivan all qualified at the Okanagan Valley Track and Field finals in Kamloops on recently to earn a spot in the B.C. championships in Langley from June 8-10. Athletes finishing in the top four of their events qualified to attend the provincial meet.
The regional finals, which included schools from SD83, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and surrounding areas, was to take place on May 18 but was cancelled due to poor air quality for the wildfire smoke. The event went ahead on May 24 as an evening meet. “This was a lot of fun as it was under the stadium lights in Kamloops on a beautiful evening,” comments Salmon Arm Secondary coach Suzy Beckner.
At Eagle River in Sicamous coach Jodie Osmundson reports Eagle River Secondary had two students compete at the championships last week, Emilee Birmingham in the Grade 8 Girls 200 metre race and Victoria Itterman in Jr. Girls Shot Put. Victoria will move on to the provincials.
A.L. Fortune had nine students take part with four moving on to provincials. Jessica Rands was first in Grade 8 Javelin, Kaelan Zacharias was second in Junior Javelin, and Jacob Simpso was third in Junior Shot Put. Also, Declan Saner qualified in the Junior 1500 metre Racewalk at a prior meet. “It was an incredible job by these athletes,” said Principal Mark Marino. He thanked coaches Steven Stankoven and Matthew Houghland as well as Aidan Clancy for helping coach the team and serving as the team captain.
Over at Pleasant Valley Secondary Athletic Director Jon Koch commented the team did well with Ava Wagner, Anna Melvin, Jasmin Richoux, and Ila Isaac all qualifying for provincials in the 4x100m and the 4x400m relays. Ila Isaac also qualified for high jump and Anna Melvin is still in the mix for the long jump final but hasn’t heard yet. The team is coached by retired teacher Ian Cameron.
The Jackson and Sullivan track and field team have the following athletes who have committed to travelling to Langley from June 8th – 10th to compete at the championships:
Jackson
- Ava La Sota – Discus
- Ellie Giesbrecht – 300m Hurdles, 1500m Steeplechase
- Lucy King – 400m, 800m
Sullivan
- Sam Calkins – 3000m, 2000m Steeplechase
- Frankie Ayotte – 3000m, 2000m Steeplechase
- Simon Bakker – 800m
- Eric Moore – Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump
- Jack Maryniuk – 200m, 400m
- Hazel Brooks – 3000m, 1500m Steeplechase
Beckner commented the Jackson and Sullivan Track and Field teams have had a busy and successful season so far. The first track meet of the season was The Battle of the Border meet where teams from BC and Alberta competed against each other. Next, the teams travelled to the Dylan Armstrong Classic meet as a preparation for the North Okanagan and Okanagan Valley Championships.
On May 9th the athletes competed in the Zone Championships in Kamloops. At this event the Senior Men’s team from Sullivan won the Championship banner. All athletes placing in the top three in the North Okanagan Zone earned a spot to compete in the Okanagan Valley Championships.
Good luck to all our athletes as they head to the provincials!