CARLYLE — The Gordon F Kells High School track-and-field team did well this season with 19 athletes competing in the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association's provincial track-and-field meet in June in Moose Jaw.
The season, which started at the end of March, was a lot of hard work for those who participated.
“Once we could get outside, I provided practice every day at 3:30 and 6. I am a strong believer in multi-sport athletes, so I did not want my athletes to have to choose between doing track or playing ball. I provide practice time every day to work around their schedule,” said head coach Shelley Sargent.
The school had 43 athletes in Grades 7-12 competing in track and field this year.
“This is the highest number that I have had on a team,” said Sargent. “That was an exciting start to the season.”
This year Sargent took 19 athletes to provincials. Eleven went for the first time.
“Last year I took eight athletes to provincials so taking 19 this year was very exciting,” said Sargent.
“I have athletes who have never done track before this year,” continued Sargent. “As you build the team and the environment around it, other kids try it which is great to see.”
Sargent is proud of how well everyone did.
“Every track season I say to my athletes I don't care what place you finish as long as you have done and strived for your best at every meet. I have a very hard-working group, so I knew the potential was there,” said Sargent. “I am very proud of all my athletes. A lot of time was put into practising [so] it was nice to see their hard work pay off.”
The provincial meet had up to 28 athletes from around Saskatchewan competing in each event. Those athletes finishing in the top 16 in their event earned points for their school. The Carlyle athletes finished with 112.5 points, finishing sixth out of 49 teams in the 3A category.
Carlyle athletes finished in the top 16 in their various events throughout the weekend. Liam Thompson was competing in the junior boys' quad which consisted of the 100 metres, shot put, long jump, and 800 metres, earning points in each event based on their time or distance. He ended with a total of 2,277 points and became the junior boys' quad provincial champion.
June 6 saw Darius Dixon finishing 11th in intermediate boys' triple jump and Hayden Miller was 14th in senior boys' discus. In track, Alix Rae finished fifth in intermediate girls 100 metres, Karsyn Gervais was 14th in the senior girls 100 metres and Sawyer Tomaszewski finished 10th in the senior boys 100-metre hurdles.
That night, Rae finished 15th in intermediate girls' long jump. Chase Himmelspach received the bronze medal in senior boys' javelin with a throw of 47.23 metres.
In the morning of June 7, Dane Peterson became the provincial champion in senior boys' shot put with 14.10 metres on his last attempt. Rae finished 10th in intermediate girls' triple jump and Tomaszewski finished 14th in senior boys' triple jump. Karsyn Gervais finished eighth in senior girls' long jump and 16th in the 200 metres. Tenley Gervais finished 14th in intermediate girls' javelin. Myles Lequyer finished ninth in junior boys' 800m.
The provincial meet ended with the relay finals. The South East district intermediate relay teams advanced to the final after the morning heats. Joseph Hubalde and Dixon were a part of the intermediate boys' 4x100m relay team and ended up finishing fourth overall. Rae ran on the intermediate girls's 4 x 100m relay team, which finished fourth.
Between their success this year and knowing two of her athletes graduated this year, Sargent is looking forward to the next track season already.
“I am excited to see what next year's track and field team looks like and what the future holds for us,” said Sargent.
