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Twenty-six athletes moving on to provincials after top performances at districts

Neither rain nor wind nor muggy weather was going to slow down athletes at the track at Estevan Comprehensive School Wednesday, as athletes competed at districts to qualify for provincials.
Kaleb Poole pic
Kaleb Poole of ECS clears the midget boys high jump, finishing second.

Neither rain nor wind nor muggy weather was going to slow down athletes at the track at Estevan Comprehensive School Wednesday, as athletes competed at districts to qualify for provincials.

One of the big record breakers who will be moving on to provincials, June 1-2 in Prince Albert, is Hunter Wallster, who set a district meet record for junior boys with a 39.06 metre throw in the discus.

“This is my fourth meet of the year,” said Wallster. “First meet, I threw 32, second I threw 41, third it was 39 and this one was 39.”

Each competitor had five throws, with each one’s best counting as their final. Wallster saved his best for his last throw of 39.06

“The record was 37.70 and I threw 36 going into the fifth round,” Wallster said. “I was close and I know I can throw further so I was just trying to push myself to throw 40.”

That throw was a fair distance over the second place John Hlavka of Gladmar at 32.92

Now that Wallster knows he’ll be going to provincials, he can take the next week and a half to focus on the training he’ll need to do to win gold.

The provincial record for junior boys was set in 1964 by Steve Molnar of Saskatoon with a throw of 44.98 metres. Molnar eventually went on to play football at Utah and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 

Elsewhere on the track, Carter Davenport qualified for provincials with a solid run in the senior boys’ 800 metres with a time of two minutes, 14.49 seconds.

“Overall it was a good race and everyone ran hard,” said Davenport. “With the weather conditions, 2:14 isn’t a bad time.”

Just as the race started a huge wind kicked up, blowing dust near the track, as a light rain also pelted the runners. While it cooled down the mugginess for spectators, the distant sound of thunder had some heading quickly indoors out of the elements.

No such luck for athletes, who ran hard through the elements.

“It really depends on the person,” said Davenport. “If the person likes to run with the wind and run slower it’s better but if it’s just a person who likes to hold pace all the time it’s a little harder. The wind works against them and messes up with their times.” 

Qualifying for provincials meant a lot for Davenport, who finished third in the 1500 metres just a little while before the 800 race three seconds behind, with only two from each moving on top provincials. It was effectively his last kick at high school athletics.

“Now I can actually go to provincials in my grade 12 year,” he said. “It shows I can play other sports besides basketball (and) football.”

Tatiana Dutka placed first in the senior girls’ quad (a special combination of 100 metres, 800  metres, long jump and shot put) and will also represent at provincials in that event.

“For me, it means you’re a true athlete because there’s a throwing, a jumping, a sprinting and a long distance,” said Dutka. “For me, I like competing against the best athletes in the province.”

She had the top scores in her group in the long jump (8.36 metres) and 800 metres (2:40.36).

“I’m excited for new competition because I’ve been going against the same people,” she said.

Again as a senior going to provincials, Dutka will be going with some of her best friends over the last few years of high school athletics.

“I’m happy to be able to experience something like provincials with friends and original teammates,” she said.

A total of 26 athletes qualified for provincials, including Cazlynn Barnstable qualified in triple jump and the relay, Morgan Fichter advanced in the 100 metres and the 200 metres, the long jump, the triple jump and the relay, Sammy Wade qualified in the 1,500 metres, and Dutka and Maddie Zandee qualified in the quad.

In senior boys, Erik Gusikoski qualified in discus, Hunter Ruel advanced in the 200 metres and the 400 metres, as well as the 4x100-metre relay and the 4x400-metre relay, John Sasi qualified in the high jumpe and a relay, and Davenport is going in the 800 metres and the 1500 metres.

In junior girls, Madison Folkerts is going in the 400 metres, the 800 metres and the 4x400-metre relay, Emily Thompson qualified in the 200 metres, Sarah Dacuycuy advanced in the 100 metres, the long jump, the triple jump and a relay, Taylor Geisel advanced in the 800 metres, Nicole Kistanov qualified in the 100 metres, the long jump, the triple jump and the relay, Sahelle Rioux is going in the hurdles, Taylor Haux qualified in the discus and the javelin, Marlie Weinrauch advanced in the 1500 metres and Trinity Rooks is going in the relay.

In junior boys, Wallster is going in the shot put and the discus, Kylan Fichter qualified in the long jump and the high jump, Parker Lavoie advanced in the shot put and Zach Ashworth reached provincials in the 100 metres, the triple jump and the relay.

Chelsea McLenehan advanced to provincial in the midget girls 200 metres, 400 metres and 4x400-metre relay, and Rachelle Stephany qualified in the javelin.

Kaleb Poole qualified in the midge boys high jump and Jon Swirski advanced in the 100-metre and 200-metre dashes