Brooks Secondary School sprinter Calli-Ann Abbott has taken a gold medal in the 200 metres at the BC High School Provincial Track and Field Championships.
High school track athletes from around the province competed at McLeod Park in Langley over May 31 and June 1. Coach Connie Polman-Tuin and parent Silvana Hernandez travelled with the Powell River team.
In addition to her gold medal, Abbott, in grade nine, also collected silver in hurdles and had a personal best in high jump coming in fourth overall.
“Calli-Ann was very much on that day,” said Silvana. “She just focused on the event and relaxed.”
Grade nine Tim Wriglesworth competed in the 1,500-metre race and also scored a personal best time.
Cale Hernandez had a somewhat disappointing performance at the meet. At the qualifying tournament for the provincials Cale knocked the last hurdle down and landed on his ankle, said Silvana. “He wasn’t able to compete for the rest of the meet because of his ankle,” she said.
Cale missed the decathlon event which is what he had been training all winter to compete in. He had to have his ankle taped up for the provincials and didn’t come close to his personal best at long jump.
“He had to let that go and then he competed in the hurdles,” said Silvana. “But he managed a personal best in the hurdles.” He placed sixth overall.
Cale will compete in a decathlon on Saturday, June 15, to make up some points to be able to place on the provincial team or at other qualifying meets.
Although the track season winds down for most Powell River athletes at the end of June, Cale, together with his younger brother Zane as well as Abbott and her younger brother Keagan will continue to train. Silvana said she expects athletes to compete in the Junior Development Track Meet held this July in Nanaimo and, except for Keagan who would be too young to compete, the Canadian Youth Legion Track and Field Championships held in Langley this August.
