The Estevan Comprehensive School track and field team used the district competition as a hearty tune-up for provincials.
The squad earned 10 first-place finishes and will send 16 of the team’s 24 athletes to provincials this weekend in Yorkton. Of particular note, ECS’s William Chamney broke a 41-year-old record in the district’s 100-metre race. That makes him the current district record holder in both the 100 and 200-metre event, which he set last year. He also won the 200m and long jump events, while placing second in high jump.
“Things went amazing. We did very well,” said track coach Caitlin Giesbrecht of Team ECS performance at the district meet in Weyburn on May 27.
Those who finished first or second in their events qualified for the provincial meet.
The track coach said even for those students who won’t be competing provincially, there were a lot of personal bests and quality performances that saw athletes in the top five.
“There were a few who weren’t totally happy with how their day went, but on the flip side, we had amazing personal bests, with some kids out-throwing and out-jumping themselves by metres from the previous week, and in a few cases shaving a few seconds off their races, which is quite a big deal when it comes down to competition,” said Giesbrecht.
“The kids were all peaking at the right time.”
This weekend’s provincial meet will include the largest track team Giesbrecht has taken since she started coaching four years ago.
“It’s really nice to see this program getting stronger, and I’m sure once we get the new facility it will get even better,” she said.
Among the senior girls, Carly Kreklewich finished first in the 1,500m and 3,000m. And second place performances went to Macy Earl, 800m; Jenna Kreklewich, long jump; and Kristen Skjonsby, 100m. All four girls will be competing at provincials as well.
In senior boys, those joining Chamney in Yorkton will include Kyle Seipp, discus winner and second-place javelin thrower, and Karter Collopy, who finished second in the 3,000m race.
For junior girls, Nikita LeBlanc will compete in the 100m having won at districts. The junior boys’ Justin Weinrauch will run the 200m race at provincials following his district win.
Among midget girls, Paige Buhler’s win in the 1,500m will send her to provincials, while Morgan Fichter, second in long jump, and Tatiania Dutka, second in javelin and triple jump, will also move on to provincials.
The midget boys going to provincials will be Dakota Schnell, first in 200m and second in triple jump; Jordan Reed, second in 1,500m; and Carson Benning, second in 200m.
There were also three athletes chosen to be part of the southeast district 4x100m relay team. Nikita LeBlanc will be running for the junior girls, and William Chamney and Jacob Shurygalo will both be racing for the senior boys.
