McIntyre
Celebrating
birthday in winning style
Dorchester's McIntyre wins the U14 girls' 800 a day before turning 13 years old,
Knelsen, Wilson-Walker win, while Stanat finishes with three top two results
Saturday August 4, 2018
LONDON, ON. - Hannah McIntyre gave herself a birthday present.
The Dorchester native who turns 13 years old on Sunday, celebrated by winning her second race of the Ontario Summer Games, the under-14 girls' 800 metre race, at the Ontario Summer Games.
On day one of Athletics on Friday, McIntyre won the U14 girls' 1200 metre run (3:55.41).
"It feels amazing," said McIntyre, on being a double winner. The Grade eight student at Northdale Central elementary edged Lorelai Phinnemore in the 800, crossing the finish line in 2:22.69.
"It wasn't the best time, but it's good considering the wind (entering curve three). I'm happy," McIntyre added.
Later McIntyre ran the anchor (last) leg on Team East's winning 4-2-2-8 (400 metre-200m-200m-800m) medley relay team, with Amelia Dodds, Kaitlyn Koyanagi and Kara Tichbourne.
The Games wrap an incredible past two months for McIntyre, who also won the 800 metres, at Athletics Ontario's U14 provincial championships, along with silver medals in the 1200 and 2000 metre races.
In June, she set a meet record, for senior girls, in the 800 metres (2:21.93), at the Thames Valley District School Board final meet. McIntyre is also the reigning TVDSB senior girls cross country champion.
It was sweep of the girls' 800 metre races by local athletes.
Hallee Knelsen won the U16 event, by over a second, finishing in 2:16.5.
"I did a really hard speed workout on Tuesday. That gave me confidence because I did a 400 all out and I realized how fast I could do it. That helped today because when we went through the first lap it wasn't the pace I was hoping to match. I knew I had to go and the speed workout really helped because I knew how fast I could run a lap."
It was Knelsen's fourth 800 metre race this season in the 2:16 range, but the East Elgin Secondary school student is hoping to break 2:15.
Up next for the St. Thomas Legion Club athlete, are the Legion National Youth championships, August 10-12, in Brandon, Manitoba.
Madison Wilson-Walker won her second race of the Games, taking the girls' ambulatory 800 metres, in 2:59. 06, after winning the 100 metre dash.
"I ran a season's best in both the prelim and the final for the 100. The 800 wasn't bad, but it was a little slow," said Wilson-Walker, who competes wearing carbon fibre blades. "When it gets really hot out, I have to wipe my legs down. When I was coming around the last bend, my leg started to slip off a bit, so on one of my steps I had to stomp down really hard to keep it from falling off. But it was still a decent race."
The Lord Dorchester secondary school graduate, who is entering her third year studying at Western University, will take a three week break, before resuming training for the indoor season.
Long term goals for Wilson-Walker include qualifying in the 100-metre dash and long jump, for the 2019 World Para Athletics championships, in Dubai and the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
Arthur Stanat, of St. Thomas, wrapped up his Games, placing second in U16 boys' hammer throw, a few hours after a second place result in shot put. Stanat won U16 discus on day one of Athletics.
This is only Stanat's third meet competing in hammer, a discipline that has similarities and differences to discus.
"I enjoy it. It's a bit different and it can be confusing sometimes, switching the techniques, doing a discus turn for the hammer, which I've done a couple times," said Stanat. "The turning and technique. Hammer is more a heel-toe movement, you turn on your heel, while discus you're turning on your toe."
The hammer is the more dangerous of the throwing events, but provides both competitors and spectators entertaining landings.
"It's fun to watch it land, a big clunk, almost sticking in the ground," said Stanat.
Dylen Belanger, just 14 years old, was second, in the U16 boys' 200-metre hurdles (28.10 sec.), while his twin brother, Harrison, finished third in the U16 2000 metre run (6:35.52).
Kyra Vellinga finished third, with a personal best and club record for St. Thomas Legion, in the U16 girls' 200-metre hurdles (29.48 sec.). Vellinga was ninth, in the 200 metre dash (27.21 sec.).
Tayah DeSousa and Lily Francis, placed fifth (5.04m) and sixth (4.72m), respectively, in U16 girls' long jump.
Allie Humphries, of Thorndale, finished fifth, in the U14 girls' 200-metre hurdles (32.22 sec.) and eighth in U14 long jump (4.30m).
Related articles:
Ontario Summer Games day one in Athletics
rob@hometownplay.ca