The Good Spirit School Division (GSSD) hosted its annual Yorkton and area track and field meet at Kinsmen Century Field despite less than ideal weather conditions.
Meet co-coordinator Mark Schendel says the event featured young athletes from four local school, M.C. Knoll, Dr. Brass, Columbia and Yorkdale as well as Saltcoats, Springside and Calder Schools. Altogether there were approximately 500 young athletes from Grades 6, 7 and 8 participating in the mandatory track and field meet, Schendel reports. "It was like an entire day of phys. ed.," he suggests.
In response to reports about obesity among youth and poor physical condition of many Canadian youngsters, the GSSD is working to overcome the related health problems, Schendel states.
Track events included three sprint events, the 100 metre, 200 metre and 400 metre races.
Long distance runs included the 800 metre and 1,500 metre races.
Field events featured three jump events, the long jump, triple jump and high jump.
Throwing events include the discus and the shot put, Schendel reports.
While it was a cold, blustery day, not particularly conducive to a great track meet, there were four records set during the day, Schendel says.
Bailey Pelchat of M.C. Knoll School set a new meet record in the peewee girls' 200 metre sprint of 30.84 seconds, shattering the former record of 30.91 seconds set by Jessica Lutz from Yorkdale last year.
Quintina Wapach from Dr. Brass School set a new shot put record of 8.48 metres, breaking the old record of 7.65 metres set by Jessica Kruda of Yorkdale in 2007.
Steven St. Marie from Saltcoats School set a new meet record in the 100 metre sprint twice during the day. In the preliminary races in the morning, St. Marie set a new meet record with a time of 12.12 seconds which shattered the old record set by Logan Wiley from Columbia School of 12.25 seconds last year. In the 100 metre finals in the afternoon, St. Marie broke his own record established that morning by turning a new record time of 11.95 seconds. "An athlete has to have great jets in order to be running under 12 seconds for that age group. He was flying down the track for that particular race," Schendel declares.
In the midget girls' shot put Joanie Starblanket from Dr. Brass School established a new midget girls' shot put record with a toss of 7.79 metres breaking the old record of 6.69 metres from 2010 set by CeeAnn Donovan from Yorkdale School.
Organizers look at the meet as being fun and competitive at the same time, Schendel says. The results are used to qualify for the East Central District (ECD) track meet Wednesday and Thursday next week, he notes.
Two GSSD teams will be formed to represent the division at the ECD meet, Schendel points out. One team, the Yorkdale Rural Middle Years Team (YRM) will consist of athletes from Yorkdale, Springside, Saltcoats and Calder Schools. The Yorkton Urban Middle Years Team will involve athletes from Columbia, Dr. Brass, and M.C. Knoll Schools.
Both teams will select and send 50 athletes to the ECD meet where they will participate in the same events they did at the local meet.
Darren Wandy and the Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) archery club drew praise from Schendel for operating the canteen at the track meet. As Well, Schendel thanked the YRHS for offering the use of their facility for the day. School staff who worked the meet and helped to make it the success it turned out to be also drew his appreciation. Finally, Schendel thanked the athletes for their efforts in making it a great day.
"One thing the GSSD is always proud of, we offer a variety of opportunities for kids to excel. This was another one of those opportunities," Schendel closes.
