Humboldt Collegiate Institute came out on top during a record-setting Horizon Central Athletic Association district track and field meet.
HCI had 45 participants rack up 836 points to top the other 40 schools participating in the May 26 meet in Saskatoon. Tanner Gerwing helped HCI’s cause by winning the Junior Boys aggregate title. HCI track and field coach Tom Schwinghamer emphasized that the team’s success is due to the commitment of its athletes and coaches.
“Our track group is very dedicated and our athletic programs have a tradition and expectation for excellence and success,” Schwinghamer wrote in an email interview. “From a team point of view, the points we acquire are not just the first and second place finishers, but also the sixth through 10th place efforts provide points for the team. Everyone has an opportunity to contribute in their own way.”
There was plenty to cheer about at the recent meet as 34 records were broken. It was speculated that this was about twice as many as normally fall at the annual competition. HCI’s Alex Johnson set a new mark in midget boys 100-meter hurdles (15.51). St. Augustine’s Taylor Zwarych established new bantam girls records in the 100 (13.07) and 200 (27.29). Her school squad also set a bantam girls record in the 4x100 (56.46).
Muenster School student-athletes broke four records at the district meet. The Cougars were dominant in javelin with new marks set by Nicklas Anderson, senior boys, 51.31m; Jordan Breker, junior boys, 46.68m; and Kalvin Rueve, midget boys, 52.22m. In addition, Jenay Varga of Muenster won the midget girls javelin. Muenster’s Alison Behiel set a new junior girls long jump mark of 4.94m.
From the district meet, the top two in each event at the midget, junior, and senior levels advance to the provincial championships, which will be held June 5-6 in Yorkton. Even athletes who did not rewrite the record book or earn a provincial berth came away from the district meet with a feeling of accomplishment.
“In track a PB (personal best) is always the goal,” wrote Schwinghamer, who stressed HCI is very proud of the contributions of all team members. “It is great to see our student athletes supporting each other in so many ways.”
Lake Lenore Success
Lake Lenore School had great success at the district track and field meet. The school placed second to HCI with 752 points. Four Lake Lenore student-athletes won at least a share of an aggregate championship.
“Our team has experienced a lot of success in track and field over the last few years simply because of the effort the students put in to their training,” track and field coach Curtis Strueby wrote in an email interview. “We have a great group of senior athletes who have led the way for quite some time now with their work ethic and attitude. They have experienced great successes at the district and provincial level. Our younger student athletes see what it takes to be successful and try to emulate what the older students have done. The bottom line is the students allow this team to be successful because they care and want to do the best they can. We are a small school and they take a lot of pride in doing the best they possibly can.”
In the senior girls category, Lake Lenore’s Beth Prodahl shared the aggregate title with Annaheim’s Molly Yungmann. Prodahl won the 800, 1,500, and 3,000. Yungmann took home titles in the 80-meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump.
Dalyn Smith from Lake Lenore was the senior boys aggregate champ. He was first across the finish line in the 400, 800, 1,500, and 3,000. Teammate Grace Flaman won the 800, 1,500, and 3,000 in the junior girls category to earn that division’s championship. She set a record time of 5:27.53 in the 1,500. In peewee girls, Jade Smith of Lake Lenore won the 400, 800, and 3,000 to claim the aggregate title.
In addition, Dalton Kiedrowski set a district record of 11:46.16 in the peewee boys 3,000 meter run.
District Success
Other aggregate title winners at the district meet were: Alyson Edwards, Strasbourg, midget girls; Brayden Mytopher, Strasbourg, midget boys; Mary Latoski, Wynyard Comprehensive, bantam girls; Masson Altrogge, Middle Lake, bantam boys; and Tony Ullman, Raymore, peewee boys.
For complete results and district meet record, please see the http://hcaa.hzsd.ca/ website.
