A group of Powell River track and field athletes recently competed at the BC Athletics Track and Field Jamboree. The club meet, held July 5 to 7 in Kamloops, served as the selection trials for the Canadian championships.
Representing Powell River were brother and sister Cole and Samantha Baron, Stan Vishek and Russell Bruckshaw. In the U18 category Samantha won gold in the 400-metre hurdles and ran to a new personal best in the 100-metre hurdles. Earlier this year, she won gold in the 400-metre hurdles at the BC High School Track and Field Championships.
Cole competed in U16, claiming gold in triple jump with a personal best of 11.91 metres, and jumped to a second place medal in long jump.
Vishek, who had an injury plagued season, placed fifth in the U18 400-metre event. Bruckshaw also moved up to the under 18 category in triple jump and long jump, claiming sixth and 10th place respectively.
This year club track finishes with the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where the best in Canada will compete. This week, Samantha learned she has been selected to compete on the BC Athletics U18 provincial team in Nova Scotia from August 7 to 13.
“I’m very excited to have made the BC team because I’ll be travelling with friends and have the opportunity to meet many new people,” she said. “For the future I plan to keep training and hopefully, continue to improve. I’m definitely looking forward to Legion nationals and competing against a higher level of competition.”
