About 160 athletes were striving for new heights, distances and times at the Yukon Schools’ Athletic Association Track and Field Meet at F.H. Collins Secondary on Wednesday.
Vanier, F.H. Collins and Porter Creek secondary schools were represented, plus a handful of athletes showed up from Ecole Emilie-Tremblay and Wood Street School.
“Track and field is definitely my favourite sport,” said Porter Creek senior competitor Scott Peterson. “I wish a lot more people would come out and try it, even the longer-distance ones. It’s a good sport, but it’s too bad it’s only one day.”
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Peterson’s love of track translated into some top results; he won the 100-metre dash, the 200-metre dash and the long jump for his division. The Grade 11 student even ran two legs for two different teams in the 4x100-metre relay, darting across the field after the first leg to run the fourth leg for another team.
“They were short one runner each and two of my friends wanted me (on their team),” said Peterson. “So I was trying to make both sides happy, I guess.”
Wednesday’s meet sparked an interest in track for Porter Creek’s Logan O’Shea. The first-time, Grade 8 competitor won three ribbons.
One in particular stands out. In the shot put event O’Shea threw at 12 metres, 45 centimetres, farther than any other Grade 8, junior or senior.
“I just did what I was told how to do,” said O’Shea. “I was amazed that I actually could come out here and do this event.”
O’Shea, who was also third in discus and was on a winning relay team, will “definitely” be back to compete next year.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com