Seven TVRA championship records fall

 

   Taylor Kana in junior girls javelin and Libby McCurdy in junior girls pole vault

   two of the new marks set at the two day conference track and field meet

 

May 20, 2022

 

 

 

 

By Rob J. Ross 

LONDON, Ont. - Seven records fell at the 2023 Thames Valley Regional Athletics Association (TVRAA) track and field championships.

East Elgin Eagles Taylor Kana and St. Joseph's Libby McCurdy are among the seven athletes that set new marks at the meet May 17-18 at Western University.

Kana won junior girls javelin by over 15 meters, breaking a 39-year old record held by former East Elgin Eagle Karen Perry, with a throw of 41.07 meters. Perry set her mark of 37.66 meters in 1984.

Kana who has thrown over 40 meters a few times this season, started with measures of 35.57 and 29.35 meters. Both marks would have won Kana the competition, but the OFSAA novice women's bronze medalist last year was aiming for a personal best measurement.

"I was a little frustrated at first, but then I started figuring out a bit and started to relax. I didn't have good foam at the end (of the throw) and I kept overthrowing it, so it would go straight down," said Kana.

Her fourth attempt was her PB and meet record.

"It felt really good. I was trying to correct my form the whole time and then that one finally felt good." Kana said.

Kana's Eagles' teammates Darah Farrow and Reece Laidlaw, placed second and fifth, respectively. The trio of throwers are coached by Kyle Rolph.

"Taylor was doing it, so I was like, I'll do it. It's fun," Farrow said. "Taylor is really good. If we do something wrong, she's like keep your chest up, do this. She's like a mini Kyle. She's so positive and enthusiastic."

Farrow went from throws of 19.93 and 18.40 meters to 23.79 and her best of 25.78 meters.

"I feel I could have done a little better, but it's alright, said Farrow, who also placed fifth in both discus and high jump. "It's for fun honestly. I like being out here and some days off (school)."

McCurdy cleared three meters (3.00m) in junior women's pole vault, raising the Tri-County record from 2.72 meters, previously held by WCI's Katy McGoffin since 2015.

The OFSAA silver medalist in novice girls last year was just below her PB of 3.06 meters

Julia Tunks, of London Oakridge, set new marks in both senior women's discus and shot put.

Also setting records, CCH's Paige Marchant, senior women's 800-meter run (4:32.39), London Central's Heath McAllister, senior men's 3000 meter run (8:27.46) and Lucas Vikings' Sarah Jacquith, novice women's 300-meter hurdles (45.15 sec.).

Dorchester won the overall boys single-A team title, led by Evan Stevens, who won junior boys javelin and placed second in pole vault and Fernando Medina, who finished first in the junior men's 3000 meters and second in both the 1500 and 800 meter runs.

Parkside Stampeders Merrick Rollins, junior men's discus, St. Joseph's Rams Matt Piekny, senior men's pole vault and Dorchester Beavers' Tegan Ceccanese, in the open women's steeplechase, were all event winners.

Carter Froggett, of Thorndale, with Medway high school, won senior men's javelin.

The top 10 in each event advance to the Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (WOSSAA) meet, back at Western May 25-26.

From WOSSAA, the top five move on to the OFSAA West regional, June 1-2 at Hespeler secondary school in Cambridge.

The top four at regionals head to the OFSAA championships, June 8-10, at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility, in Ottawa.

 

LOCAL WOSSAA QUALIFIERS                                                   COMPLETE TVRA RESULTS                                                     HURON-PERTH RESULTS

 

For Ceccanese, TVRA was just her second time running the oval with barriers and a water pit.

"This is my second race," Ceccanese said. "I didn't think I was capable of doing well at it. Coach Tennant said, you have the grit. you have the strength to get over the hurdles. You should try it. I was very skeptical at first, but I'm really glad that I gave it a try."

Dorchester has a gravel track, one barrier and no water pit.

"We have one steeple and it's set at the boys' height, so I initially practiced at the boys' height which is six inches higher. Now going over these ones, it feels easy and not as much effort," Ceccansese said. "You can't over think it. When you're seeing it coming, you can't think about that there's a steeple there. You just have to get over it and keep running. I step on them. I feel safer feeling it under my foot."

Ceccanese won her debut at the Track Wars meet May 5 in Cambridge.

At TVRA, Ceccanese and WCI's Charlotte Piscione were the front runners from the gun.

"I felt I ran strong and within myself," Ceccansese said. "I was a little nervous off the start when (Piscione) went out pretty fast and I didn't know if I could keep with her. Then it felt right at one point to just get a surge. Then once I was there, I secured my spot."

Ceccanese took gold, finishing in seven minutes and 55.01 seconds (7:55.01), one second ahead of Piscione and 30 seconds ahead of the field.
 

Tunks of London Oakridge had a record setting meet, breaking two marks set by Meghan Weaver of London Lucas in 2004.

The Grade 11 athlete smashed the senior women's discus record with a throw of 54.92 metres, while leaving the competition almost 25 meters behind. Tunks soared passed the old mark of 43.56 meters by over 11 meters.

That increases her National interscholastic record from 53.72 meters, set last June at the OFSAA West regional.

Tunks, who has committed to attend UCLA in 2024, also broke the TVRA senior girls shot put record, of 12.72 meters, on her second throw, measuring 13.48 meters.

Weaver holds the discus record at WOSSAA, at 46.76 meters. Adele St. John has the senior girls shot put record of 12.68 meters from 2018.

Tunks' dad, Olympian Jason Tunks, holds the WOSSAA senior boys discus record of 62.64 meters, set in 1995.

A year ago, Tunks sets new WOSSAA marks in discus (51.26m) and shot put (13.94m) for junior girls.

 

 

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    Local Results (doesn't include scratches or athletes added to events due to scratches)

 

CENTRAL ELGIN     DORCHESTER     EAST ELGIN     PARKSIDE     ST. JOE'S     WEST ELGIN    GLENCOE    MEDWAY (Thorndale athletes)

 

 

    CENTRAL ELGIN

Westbrook

Eight Titans moving on to WOSSAA

Senior women: Emma Westbrook, sixth, javelin, 26.30m, 10th, long jump, 4.35m, 10th, shot put, 8.31m.

Senior men: Fox Gray, fourth, 400m, 52.54 sec., seventh, 200m, 23.72 sec.; Cole Goodhue, sixth, triple jump, 11.79m; Carson Taylor, eighth, long jump, 5.28m.

Junior men: Coleton Lucio, 10th, shot put, 11.39m.

Novice women: Janay Gillard, seventh, discus, 19.29m.

Novice men: Fletcher Taylor, second, high jump, 1.64m, third, long jump, 5.51m; Dollan Brown, fourth, shot put, 11.99m, fourth, discus, 35.21m.

 

    DORCHESTER

Beavers will see 27 athletes at WOSSAA

Senior women: Tegan Ceccanese, first, open steeplechase, 7:55.01, second, 3000m, 11:27.54; Hannah McIntyre, second, 800m, 2:17.08; Julia Devine, second, high jump, 1.45m, seventh, triple jump, 9.23m; Natalie Woods, fifth, 400m hurdles, 1:14..92; Emily Devine, sixth, triple jump, 9.42m; Claire White, seventh, pole vault, 2.25m; Allie Humphries, eighth, triple jump, 9.20m, 10th, 400m hurdles, 1:20.42.

Senior men:  Nabeel Haliru, second, high jump, 1.75m; Sam Willsie, second, 400m hurdles, 1:03.00, third, 400m, 52.45 sec., third, 800m, 2:02.42; Aaron Mills, eighth, 800m, 2:11.70; Grant Hallman, 10th, high jump, 1.70m, 10th, 400m hurdles, 1:08.18; Jeremy Hardeman, seventh, 3000m, 10:17.14, 1500, 4:37.17; Blake Morris, 10th, 3000m, 11:03.16, 4x100 relay, sixth, 46.53 sec.

Junior women: Mya Steller, third, 200m, 27.63 sec., fourth, 300m hurdles, 51.83 sec., fifth, 80m hurdles, 13.61 sec.

 Junior men: Evan Stevens, first, javelin, 49.71m, second, pole vault, 3.05m, seventh, 100m hurdles, 16.45 sec.; Fernando Medina, first, 3000m, 9:34.78, second, 1500m, 4:27.10, second, 800m, 2:08.24; Ryan Johnson, second, 3000m, 9:50.90, third, open steeplechase, 7:14.68, fifth, 1500m, 4:34.87; Aaron Pranger, fourth, javelin, 41.13m; Luke Bradish, fifth, high jump, 1.65m triple jump, 12th, 10.75m. (two scratches gives spot); Tyson Lucas, fifth, javelin, 39.98m; Zachary Dossantos, seventh, javelin, 33.47m; Devan Lucas, eighth, 300m hurdles, 46.79 sec.; Ethan Kent, ninth, open steeplechase, 7:38.74; Greyson Turner, eighth, 300m hurdles, 46.79 sec., 10th, 100m hurdles, 17.61 sec.;  Jaden Sebinagana, 10th, 400m, 57.66 sec.; 4x100 relay, eighth, 48.36 sec.

Novice men: Andrew Urquart, second, shot put, 12.41m, third, discus, 36.74m, sixth, javelin, 32.92m; Kirk Hallman, second, 3000m, 9:53.25, third, 1500m, 4:28.60, fifth, 800m, 2:09.79; Ryan Pranger, fourth, javelin, 35.14m, seventh, triple jump, 10.65m; River Neveu, fourth, triple jump, 11.04m; Lennon Ceccanese, 10th, 300m hurdles, 59.92 sec.

Open men's 4x4: Beavers A, sixth, 3:46.79; Beavers B, 10th, 3:56.09.

  

    EAST ELGIN

Record setter Kana leads a team of 12 Eagles, including one relay team.

Senior women: Alexa Shackelton, ninth, 3000m, 13:00.45

Junior women: Taylor Kana, first, javelin, 41.07 (meet record); Darah Farrow, second, javelin, 25.78m, fifth, discus, 22.27m, fifth, high jump, 1.40m; Reece Laidlaw, fifth, javelin, 23.75m, ninth, discus, 19.37m.

Junior men: Keenan Friesen, javelin, seventh, 36.59m.

Novice women: Sophie Nagelhout, seventh, 400m, 1:08.26, 10th, 800m, 2:42.83; Ange Kloosterman, seventh, high jump, 1.40m.

Novice men: Henry Scott, third, 200m, 23.87 sec., fourth, 100m dash, 11.65 sec.; Cameron Vermeer, fifth, shot put, 11.89m, fifth, discus, 33.01m; Morgan Siemans, seventh, 200m, 24.71 sec.; 4x100 relay, third, 49.09 sec.

 

    PARKSIDE

Rollins in three events leads 10 Stampeders.

Senior men: Zach Roberts-Neef, second, open steeplechase, 7:06.91; Andrew Monteith, sixth, 800m, 2:08.36. 

Senior women: Alyssa Gordon, seventh, long jump, 4.44m, eighth, 100m dash, 13.79 sec, 10th, high jump, 1.35m; 4x100m relay (Gordon, Alexis Gray, Lynsey Last, Ava Goodison), sixth, 54.94 sec.; Claire Golding, 10th, triple jump, 9.08m.

 Junior men:  Merrick Rollins, first, discus, 50.8m; third, javelin, 42.61m, fifth, shot put, 12.74m; Nathan Alden, seventh, long jump, 5.45m.                      

 Junior women: Alexis Gray, fourth, 400m, 1:05.63, eighth, 200m, 28.65 sec.; Audrey Ferguson, open steeplechase, sixth, 8:50.62, 10th, 1500m, 5:44.95; Olivia Sutton, fifth, 800m, 2:30.31, sixth, 400m, 1:07.68.

Novice men: Aiden Ward, second, 100m hurdles, 15.09 sec., fifth, triple jump, 10.75m, eighth, 100m dash, 12.10 sec. 

 

    ST. JOE'S

Golden pole vaulters Piekny and McCurdy lead 24 athletes and two relay teams to WOSSAA.

Senior men: Matthew Piekny, first, pole vault, 4.15m, fifth, 110m hurdles, 16.92 sec., sixth, long jump, 5.33m; David Anderson, second, discus, 34.45m, second, shot put, 12.29m; Noah Pollnow, third, discus, 33.13m, sixth, shot put, 11.15m; Cullan Byrne, seventh, 400m hurdles, 1:06.61; Wes McLennan, seventh, 100m dash, 11.80 sec.; 4x100m relay, ninth, 47.95 sec.

Senior women: Christine Annett, sixth, 1500m, 5:35.55; Sarah Vanvelzer, 10th, discus, 22.40m.

Junior men: Shalem Hernandez, second, shot put, 13.71m, ninth, discus, 32.19m; Donny Sachse, fourth, high jump, 1.73m; Connor Crosby, fifth, 800m, 2:15, 58, sixth, 3000m, 10:10.75, seventh, 1500m, 4:42.16; Tyler Van Gorp, seventh, 400m, 56.62 sec., seventh, 300m hurdles, 46.42 sec.; Joel Jenson, seventh, 800m, 2:17.18, Fowler Little, eighth, 1500m, 4:43.27, eighth, 3000m, 10:21.76; Ty Emre, fifth, 3000m, 10:01.46, ninth, 1500m, 4:44.09.

Junior women: Libby McCurdy, first, pole vault, 3.00m; Mara Kemmerling, first, 80m hurdles, 12.73 sec., seventh, 100m dash, 13.64 sec.; Promise Atkinson, fourth, pole vault, 2.40m, ninth, 300m hurdles, 54.11 sec.; Sophie DeSousa, seventh, 300m hurdles, 53.65 sec.; Brooklyn Hewitt, sixth, javelin, 23.25m, seventh, long jump, 4.24m; 4x100m relay team, seventh, 56.42 sec.

Novice women: Flourish Nmor, third, 400m, 1:05.71, fourth, 800m, 2:35.96, sixth, 300m hurdles, 54.24 sec,; Natalie Siviero, sixth, discus, 19.39m; Claire Caslick, eighth, 1500m, 5:36.92, eighth, 300m hurdles, 1:00.57; Callie Crow, ninth, 400m, 1:08.98.

Novice men: Luke McKillop, 10th, 1500m, 4:55.07.

 

    WEST ELGIN

Senior men: Dan Barnes, ninth, 3000m, 10:57.48.

 

    GLENCOE

Novice men: Owen Hurley, eighth, long jump, 4.85m; Noah Baron, sixth, discus, 32.18m; 10th, javelin, 28.88m.

Senior women: Bella Eckert, 7th, javelin, 25.05m.

 

    MEDWAY (Thorndale athletes)

Senior women: Jadyn Luna, second, 200m, 26.44 sec., shot put, second (11.33m), 100m hurdles, fifth, 16.03 sec.

Senior men: Carter Froggett, first, javelin, 49.72m

 

    LOCAL athletes at other schools

Senior women: Sydney Vandenberg (Dorchester - London Aquinas), seventh, 100m dash, 13.37 sec., 10th, 100m hurdles, 18.49 sec.

Senior men: Spencer Vandenberg (Dorchester - Aquinas), third, 110m hurdles, 16.14 sec., fifth, 400m hurdles, 1:05.82, 11th, triple jump, 10.98m

Novice women: Aiyana John (St. Thomas - London South), second, 80m hurdles, 13.35 sec., second, high jump, 1.45m, fifth, long jump, 4.53m

 

 

 

        rob@hometownplay.ca