Michael Roth (723) on his way to winning the
junior men's 200 metre final, at the TVRA track
and field championships, at TD Stadium.
Roth also won the junior men's 100 metre final
and 300-metre hurdles. (photo / Rob Ross)
Sprinter Roth a triple
gold medalist
Leads Parkside Stampeders' junior men to team title at TVRA track and field
Friday, May 17, 2018
By Rob J. Ross
LONDON, ON. - Michael Roth is a triple gold medalist.
The Parkside Stampeder won the junior men's 200 and 400 metres sprints and 300-metre hurdles, at the at the Thames Valley Regional Athletic track and field championships, at TD Stadium.
Roth also helped the junior men's 4x100-metre relay team place second and Parkside's open men's 4x400-metre relay team finish third.
The top 10 athletes in each event, advance to the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (WOSSAA) competition, back here at TD Stadium, May 24/25.
"I have never won (at TVRA) before so it felt pretty cool," Roth said. "It was a big surprise. I never won last year. Getting medals is pretty cool."
Roth was the only sprinter in the 200 under 23 seconds, at 22.74, beating two competitors from both London RMC and London CCH. In the 400, Roth edged Strathroy's Owen McDonald, crossing the finish line in 51.84 seconds.
The hurdles came down to a three horse race and Roth battled back from shaky clearance of hurdle one to win in 41.14 seconds, three-tenths of the second ahead of Arva Medway's Judson Moorehouse. McDonald was third in 41.90 seconds.
"The first one (hurdle), I stutter-stepped and then jumped over it. The rest of them I did alright and felt smooth," said Roth.
Injuries slowed Roth a year ago, but he still managed to advance to the OFSAA West regional meet, placing eighth in the midget men's 200 metres and 12th in the 400. At TVRA, Roth finished second in the 400 metres and third in the 200.
"Training and working out more. Last year I had an injury, but this year I'm pretty good with my health," said Roth, who aims to return the regional meet and possibly qualify for OFSAA. "I'm hoping to go far, but I'll just do my best."
Parkside's Jack Carlson (713) won the midget men's 200 metres, in 23.81 seconds, at the TVRA track and field championships, at TD Stadium. (photo / Rob Ross)
Parkside coach Harry Stantsos has known Roth since the athlete joined the St. Thomas Legion club during his grade six year, at Forest Park elementary school.
"He's been blossoming the past few years. A few injuries held him back last year but this year he's putting it together," Stantsos said. "He's a little stronger, more serious about his training and he's more consistent. He has the speed, the fast twitch muscle."
Roth wasn't the only Parkside sprinter making noise.
Jack Carlson won the midget men's 200 metres (23.81 sec.), finished second, in the 400m (54.76 sec.) and fifth, in the 100 (12.58 sec).
"Jack is learning a lot and starting to improve his acceleration. He's a powerful guy and he has the tools," Stantsos said.
Roth and Carlson joined Zachary Copeland and Kyle Fraser, on the junior men's 4x1 relay team, finishing second, behind London Regina Mundi.
Parkside's time of 45.92 seconds was not that far off of the Tri-County record of 45.20, set by PCI, in 2000.
Tri-County and the Central Divisions merged last year, to create the TVRA meet, but separate records are still kept.
Concluding the TVRA meet, Carlson and Roth, along with Neil Bennett and Braiden Ferguson, placed third, in the open men's 4x400-metre relay race.
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