Students Take Part in Provincial Track and Field Finals

Congratulations to the SD83 athletes who competed at the B.C. High School Track and Field Championships from June 5-7, 2025, in Langley. It was a strong performance with personal bests, top 10 finishes, and some medals as J.L. Jackson student Vienne Bredick earned two silver medals and a bronze.

To get to the championships the teams competed in zone events, the zone finals, the Okanagan finals, and then the provincial meet. The championships featured the top 32 high school athletes from across the province per event.

Local results as follows:
A.L. Fortune
The A.L. Fortune team is coached by Steve Stankoven and Aidan Clancy. Stankoven comments that the 2025 Track & field provincials was a huge success for the team. “We had 10 athletes compete, leading to eight school records! After solid performances in the relays, everyone went home with a record.” He added that there are 32 athletes per event, so he wanted to recognize those on the team who finished in the top half:
Kaelan Zacharias – 6th in 110m Hurdles and 11th in Shot Put
Brody Cormier – 11th in 2000m Steeple Chase
Kayden Loewen – 16th in Triple Jump
“Congrats to Kaelan for making the podium and to all our athletes for earning a placement at provincials! Thanks for a great season,” he concluded.

• Kaelan Zacharias, senior men’s shot put, 6th, 11.46m
• Nevaeh Lutz, senior women’s 400m, 31st 1 minute 11.73 seconds
• Kingston Soper, junior men’s 100m, 29th, 12.30 seconds; junior men’s 200m, 24th, 24.72 secs
• Kayden Loewen, senior men’s 400m hurdles, 18th 1:04.89; senior men’s triple jump, 16th, 11.96m
• Brody Cormier, senior men’s 800m, 23rd, 2:06.72
• Shaden Cormier, junior men’s 300m hurdles, 22nd, 45.59 seconds
• Shaden Cormier, David Aylard, Duke Reynolds, Evan Nicholls, junior men’s 4x400m relay, 28th, 3:57.57
• Tristan Fergus, Brody Cormier, Soper, Loewen, junior men’s 4x400m relay, 27th, 3:43.67

J.L. Jackson and Salmon Arm Secondary

Coach Suzy Beckner reported that the J.L. Jackson (JLJ) and Salmon Arm Secondary (SAS) teams train together during the season and also travelled to track and field competitions together with a combined 35 athletes. “Congratulations to the J.L. Jackson and Salmon Arm Secondary Track and Field Teams for another successful season!”

One highlight of the season was at the Zone Championships on May 6, 2025, in Kamloops when both the JLJ boys and girls teams placed in the top of their categories winning the Zone Championship banner. On May 20, 2025, the teams travelled to compete in Kelowna for the Valley Championships and to earn a spot at the Provincial Championships. There were four JLJ athletes and one SAS athlete that qualified for and committed to competing at provincials.

She commented the only athlete from SAS to go to the provincials was Ellie Giesbrecht. This was her fourth consecutive trip to provincials and she competed in the 400 metre hurdles. “Ellie is a true team leader who will be missed next year as she moves on to post secondary,” added Beckner.

At the junior level five athletes from JLJ took part with Vienne Bredick earning a silver medal in the triple jump and high jump and a bronze in long jump. Team results as follows:

• Vienne Bredick, junior women’s Triple Jump 2nd, 11.68 metres; junior women’s high jump, 2nd, 1.6m; junior women’s long jump, 3rd, 5.32m
• Joel Giesbrecht, junior men’s Discus Throw, 8th, 35.08m
• Brodie MacLean, junior men’s Javelin, 20th, 31.37m
• Aurealia Beaumont, junior girls shot put, 18th, 9.17m; junior girl’s javelin, 29th, 19.33m; junior girl’s discus, 12th, 22.96m
• Ellie Giesbrecht, senior women’s 400 metre hurdles, 23rd, 1:20.88

Pleasant Valley Secondary School

Pleasant Valley Secondary School (PVSS) had a great season with 11 junior and senior athletes participating at North/West Zones. From here, seven qualified to move on to the Valley regionals. Three PVSS athletes moved on to the Provincials, where all achieved personal bests. The team is coached by Maryke Simmonds and Brenden Majerech.

Results as follows:
• Ila Isaac, senior women’s 100m hurdles, 29th, 19.59 secs; senior women’s shot put, 30th, 6.16m
• Kieran McLeod, junior men’s 100m, 28th 12.23 secs
• Joseph Peng, senior men’s triple jump, 24th, 11.46m

“Congrats to our grads who are moving on! We are looking forward to next season and building our program,” added Simmonds.