Track Stars Gear Up for GHAC Championships
Posted on 05/14/2024
By Larry Moko
Hamilton high school track and field athletes have reached the finish line in terms of their practice meets.
Now, it’s on to the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference championships beginning May 17. That’s to be followed – for those who qualify – by South Regionals and then the OFSAA finals.
The preseason wrapped up last Friday when Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School hosted the May Madness meet at the Ray Lewis Centre.
Almost 1,000 entrants from 25 local schools took part.
“We’ll have a lot going on here,” convener Julie Kersley of BR said during the action. In addition to May Madness, the East Mountain venue will be the site of GHAC’s three days of competition (May 17, 23, 24) plus two days of South Regionals (May 29, 30).
One of the track highlights at May Madness came in the junior boys’ 4x100m relays when St. Jean de Brébeuf's Reno Callari, Peter Konney, William Canjura and Isaiah Slegtenhorst raced to their second consecutive victory. The week before, at the Mark Graham Memorial meet, the same foursome set a Brébeuf school record with a 45.4 second clocking.
“I think we made our school very proud,” said Konney. “Our goals are big and we’ll do everything we can to achieve them. We’re training constantly.”
Competing in the novice category last June at OFSAA, Callari, Konney, Canjura and Slegtenhorst placed sixth in the 4x100. Their time was 46.86.
“They did well in the semifinals of OFSAA last year,” Brébeuf coach Joe Callari explained, “but our anchor got hurt so we put in a 400m runner for the final. So far this year they’ve been doing great.
“We’ve been training in the off season. We’re shooting for a gold medal (at provincials). We’ll see what happens.”
The previous record at Brébeuf was 46.6
Said Slegtenhorst: “Our training has been paying off. It’s been working for us. Our coaches are very supportive.”
Other first-place finishers from the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School board were as follows:
Bishop Tonnos – Victoria Zolaturiuk, JG 200m (26.25); Chloe Seiler, G 2,000m open steeplechase (8:03.50); Maya Rajah, SG 400 m (1:06.49); Darrius Mullings, SB triple jump (13.68m); SB 4x100m relay (44.98).
Bishop Ryan – Bjorn Mitchell, SB 400m hurdles (1:02.09); Milo Domanski, NB 200m (23.85); NB 4x100m relay (47.77); Obinna Enyinniah, SB high jump (1.80); Amanda Milembamane, JG discus (22.31m); Marissa Letnik, NG discus (19.35m); Levi Snider, JB discus (41.17m) and shot put (12.50m).
St. Thomas More – Maleik Allen, JB 200m (23.50); Michelle Anigwe, NG shot put (9.40m); Latoya Fletcher, JG high jump (1.35m).
Cathedral – Franchez Bendje, JG 400m (1:07.70); Natnael Mulugeta, B Open 2,000m steeplechase (6:50.67); Maria Atanasoaei, JG triple jump (9.23m); Jayden Campbell, SB high jump (1.70m); Amos Wieh, NB high jump (1.60m); Deborah Olatunji, JG shot put (9.49m).
Brébeuf – Ben Casey, JB 800m (2:06.95).
St. Mary – Michael Lezon, SB 400m (53.09).
St. John Henry Newman – Peter Baldyga, SB 200m (22.96).
The 2024 OFSAA championships are scheduled for June 6-8 in London.
Photos by Richard Andoga
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