A collection of West Shore athletes will test their physical skills on the provincial stage, after qualifying for the B.C. High School Track and Field Championships with their Island meet performances.
In senior boys competition last week at UVic’s Centennial Stadium, Royal Bay’s Matthew Thomson captured the Island crown in the 2,000-metre steeplechase with a time of six minutes, 21.05 seconds, and finished fourth in the 800 metres.
In senior girls competition Colwood’s Cassidy Steen, who attends Mount Douglas secondary, duplicated her win at South Islands by taking first in the 1,500-metre steeplechase with a time of 5:28.80. Other provincial qualifiers included Royal Bay’s Brea Christie, who was third in the 400m hurdles and fourth in the 100m hurdles. Teammate Savonah McLeod was fourth in the discus.
Among the junior boys (Grade 10), Royal Bay’s Carl Swanson posted three qualifying finishes, taking the silver in junior boys discus, with a throw of 34.98 metres, and shotput, with a 11.46-metre effort. He added a fourth in javelin.
Teammate Bryden Mandy grabbed second in the high jump with a 1.60-metre leap to qualify, while Belmont’s Jax Leeson qualified in triple jump with a fifth-place finish.
The top five finishers in each event qualified for provincials, which happen June 2 to 4 in Nanaimo.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com