Urquhart OFSAA silver medalist

   Dorchester shot putter still wanted to reach 18 metres, Medina PBs   

   Pair of 10 finishes for both Hallman and Downing

  June 10, 2022

By Rob J. Ross

LONDON, Ont. - Andrew Urquhart was beaming standing on the podium at OFSAA track and field.

Happy winning a medal, the silver medalist in junior men's shot put, still felt somewhat disappointed not reaching 18 metres and setting a personal best (PB).

That was a goal, as well as reaching the podium coming in to OFSAA, the provincial high school track and field championships, June 6-8 at Western University in London.

Urquhart, with the Dorchester Beavers, took silver with a best throw of 17.92 metres, on day three of the meet.

His personal best distance is 18.09 metres and Urquhart strived all competition long to reach that mark.

"I started off slow and feel if I had a couple more throws I would have broke 18," said Urquhart. "It feels alright. It would have been nice to be at the top, but second is alright. I'm happy with that."

Noah Mitoraj of London Aquinas, won gold with an throw of 18.31 metres.

Four of Urquhart's throws were over 17.20 metres and only he and Mitoraj landed throws over 17 metres.

The season was a successful one for Urquhart who set Dorchester school junior records in both shot put (18.09m) and discus (44.95m). The Thorndale resident also broke the TVRA championship meet record in shot put with a toss of 17.87m.

"I've come a long ways from starting around the 16.80s. I had a big PB by a metre and I'm beating that now," said Urquhart. "I'm transferring my weight better on my glide and not rushing it."

Urquhart led a team of five Dorchester athletes to OFSAA.

Kirk Hallman had a of pair of top 10 runs, finishing fifth in the junior men's 1500 metres and eighth in the 3000 metres.

"It feels great to be in the top 10 again, especially because the top 10 has changed quite a bit," said Hallman. "I'm happy to have been able to stay consistent with my placements."

A year ago at OFSAA, Hallman placed fifth in both the novice men's 1500 and 3000.

"The past few months have been really exciting with the PBs, school records and OFSAA races," Hallman said. "The start of the season had really bad weather conditions for running, so there was a lot of quick progress seen once the weather improved."

Hallman crushed three junior records at his school.

The Thorndale resident dropped the 800 metre time below two minutes, to 1:59.92, four seconds faster than Sam Willsie two years ago (2:03.29).

Hallman knocked off 14 seconds from Patrick Deane's 2010 time of 4:15.38, to 4:01.41 and he continues to strive to be under four minutes.

Finally, Hallman caught one of the oldest running records at Dorchester, 8:54.27, set by Ian Forsyth in 1989. Hallman put up the new time of 8:50.45.

"My most memorable race this season was the TVRA 800 when it was pouring rain," Hallman said. "We were all soaking wet, but still got big PBs."

Hallman finished fourth with his school record (2:03.32) that day, behind a meet record (1.58.16) set by Ryan Georgeson of Medway High. Hallman would lower the Dorchester record by four seconds more, placing second a week later at WOSSAA.

Will Downing sprinted to a pair of top eight results despite a sore hamstring, finishing seventh in the novice men's 100-metre hurdles (14.70 seconds) and 10th in the 300m hurdles (43.97 sec.).

"I had a great time. Tons of fun. Overall, really cool to watch all the top athletes in the province and how skilled they are." Downing said. "Not the results I wanted, had some unfortunate problems with my hamstring, which was bad timing."

During the season, Downing set school record in both events, 14.49 seconds in the 100 and 43.51 in the 300.

"I know I have tons more room to grow and improve," added Downing. "I'll come back stronger and better next year."

Aisha Medina set a PB placing eighth in novice women's pole vault, clearing 2.40 metres and just missed tying the school record of 2.55 metres.

"Feels good. I really worked for it because I really wanted it. I didn't get the record but there is always next year," Medina said. "I've only been pole vaulting for like a month and half."

Medina is coached by Paul White, a standout vaulter himself, who has guided several Dorchester athletes to OFSAA over the past 10 years, including Victoria Quance and Stephanie Muir.

"He does it with joy. He just loves it," Medina said. "He makes me feel very happy. If you have a coach who is very uptight, it just brings you down. He builds me up, helps me feel more relaxed. I can be uptight."

In only a few months, it appears vaulting has become Medina's favourite sport.

"I just find it to be very fun," Medina said. "My other sports are fun, but this brings joy to me. When you make a height, you see the bar and you fall and you know you made it. I feel so good."

Evan Stevens placed 15th in senior men's pole vault.

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