Lily Francis, left, AJ Stanat, Kyra Vellinga and Hallee Knelsen, from the St. Thomas Legion track and field club, will compete at the Ontario Summer Games. Not pictured are Tayah DeSousa and brothers Harrison and Dylen Belanger. (photo / Rob Ross)
St. Thomas also has five athletes at Legion provincial championships this weekend
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Lily Francis, left, AJ Stanat, Kyra Vellinga and Hallee Knelsen, from the St. Thomas Legion track and field club, will compete at the Ontario Summer Games. Not pictured are Tayah DeSousa and brothers Harrison and Dylen Belanger. (photo / Rob Ross)
By Rob J. Ross
ST. THOMAS - Seven members of the St. Thomas Legion track and field club are heading to the Ontario Summer Games.
AJ Stanat, Hallee Knelsen, Tayah DeSousa, Lily Francis, Kyra Vellinga and brothers Harrison and Dylen Belanger, have been selected to compete in track and field, at TD Stadium, August 2-5.
The event brings together some of the best bantam, midget and para athletes from across the province, divided into two teams, Ontario West and East.
"I'm extremely happy. It's obviously great to be selected for a high level competition," said Stanat, who won gold in midget men's discus and bronze, in shot put, at OFSAA, the high school provincial championships last month.
"I'm excited. I really didn't expect it. The whole experience is really cool with all the different sports and the opening ceremonies," said Vellinga, who hails from Blenheim and attends Chatham Christian high school.
St. Thomas Legion athletes have a busy schedule over the next four to five weeks.
Stanat (shot put, discus), Knelsen (800, 1200 metres), Francis (pentathlon), Vellinga (200-metre hurdles, 200 and 300 metre dashes) and Tayah DeSousa (80 and 200-metre hurdles long jump), will be at the Legion provincial championships, in St. Catharines, July 13-14.
"It feels pretty great. This year I've started to keep up with girls I have never been able to keep up with before," said Knelsen, who brought home a bronze medal in the midget women's 800 metres at OFSAA. "It has been a good season so far, but I think I still have a lot left to show."
All five athletes are also heading to Legion Nationals, August 10-12, in Brandon, Manitoba.
"Some will make the provincial team and they will go for free. If not, we're still going to fly there and compete in the club colours," explains Legion coach Harry Stantsos. "It's a first National championship for them. It'll be a good experience."
To be offered a position with Team Ontario at Legion Nationals, athletes either win multiple gold medals or compare best to the past five years results.
Francis, who attends St. Andre Bessette high school, in London, recently ventured in to the multi events.
"My main events were high jump, long jump and hurdles. My coach (Stantsos) wanted to me to try a tetrathlon, which is four events. It was a little scary at first but I ended up liking all of them," said Francis. "It made me more motivated to train as hard as I can."
On July 21-22, the Athletics Ontario Bantam (U14), midget (U16) and youth (U18) outdoor championships, are in Windsor.
Finally, there are the four Great Lakes League meets, the final one hosted by the Legion, at Parkside CI, August 1.
Hannah McIntyre, of Dorchester, and Allie Humphries, from Thorndale, both who train with London Legion, and Para-athlete Madison Wilson-Walker, from Avon, will also compete at the Summer Games.