Report from Robyn:
Congratulations to all of the JD athletes – Brent B, Nicholas, Charlie, Aidan, Matthew, Brent S, Patrick, Sean, Max, Ben, Katie, Jasmine, Lauren G, Ellie, Maria, Jessica, Antha, Chase, Emily, Delainy, Anna, Emma, Miaand Heather – who participated in the Jack Simpson Open on Saturday. Among them, these twenty-four athletes produced some excellent results, including twenty-five top three finishes and eighteen personal best performances.
The point totals after the first three meets (Dino Opener, Dino Classic and Jack Simpson Open) of the Calgary Indoor Track Series of four meets show an impressive number of CALTAF JD athletes in medal positions – Mia (gold), Ben(gold), Emma (gold), Chase (gold), Max (gold), Ellie (silver), Katie (bronze), and Nicholas (bronze) – and several other athletes in medal contention – Heather (4th), Delainy (4th), Patrick (4th), Emily (4th), Sean (5th), Aidan (5th), Lauren F (6th), and Antha (6th). I would also like to point out that the Martin family has three athletes in medal positions: Emma of the JD Group in gold and younger siblings Julia and Alison of the CALTAF Cheetahs in gold and silver respectively. Well done Martin girls! That must be a record. Medals are presented to the top three athletes in each age category. Congratulations to you all, and good luck in the final meet. The Dino Indoor Challenge on Saturday, 24th April, the fourth and final meet of the series, is your last opportunity to accumulate points towards a medal. Mark your calendars! Series medals will be presented at the final meet in April.
The complete point totals may be viewed here: http://www.uofcathletics.ca/league.php?scriptName=LEAGUEINFO&leagueID=16372&leagueInfoID=71051
Here are the meet highlights:
The women’s midget relay team of Jasmine to Ellie to Chase to Nicole Squires of CALTAF’s Power and Speed Group once again won the 4x200m relay, finishing first of four teams in a personal best time of 1:55.45s. This same team had won the 4x200m relay at the Golden Bear meet, where they finished in 1:57.36s. Once again, Jasmineacquired a healthy lead for her team, and Ellie, Chase and Nichole maintained the lead to the finish. Well done ladies! In that same race, the team of Antha to Katie to Maria to Jessica recovered well from a fall during on one of the exchanges to place 3rd. A valiant effort by Jessica on the final leg of the relay almost saw the team recover well enough to catch the second-place team from Leduc. Our youngest team of Emma to Mia to Delainy to Emilyfinished just two seconds behind the midget teams, despite having three bantams on the team. Well done ladies!
The men’s midget relay team of Nicholas to Aidan to Brent to Charlie placed 1st of three teams in a personal best time of 1:57.55s, almost two seconds faster than they had finished in the same event at the Dino Opener. Well done boys! Our younger midget relay team of Matthew to Brent S to Patrick to Max finished 3rd behind a strong team from Leduc. Our bantam boy’s team of Ben and Sean was short two runners, and teammates Heather and Annacame to the rescue. Not in the least bit intimidated by their male competitors, Heather and Anna ran very well and the team finished strongly in 2:16.35s, earning their first-place finish. Well done bantams!
Chase followed up a stellar performance at Golden Bear with another outstanding meet, finishing in the top three in all of her (four) individual events and recording two personal bests. Chase won the 14-year-old women’s 1200m, finishing 1st of four athletes in 4:08.73s. Chase was 2nd in the 300m, where she finished 2nd of ten athletes in a personal best time of 45.32s. Chase was also 3rd in the 60m in a personal best time of 8.82s and 3rd in the 600m, where she finished in 1:47.66s, a personal best of almost 5 seconds. Well done Chase!
Emma also had an outstanding meet, finishing in the top three in all of her individual events and recording another personal best performance. Emma won both the 13-year-old women’s 600m, where she finished in 1:59.50s and the 1200m, where she finished 1st of three athletes in 4:32.68s. In the 60m, Emma finished 3rd of six athletes in a personal best time of 8.80s. Thank you Emma for being such a fine ambassador for CALTAF. One of the officials at the finish line came to find me after the meet to say how impressed they were with Emma, who took the time after her last race to thank and shake the hand of every official and volunteer at the finish line. It meant a great deal to those weary volunteers. Well done Emma!
Nicholas had another outstanding meet, demonstrating yet again just how much stronger he is becoming by achieving PBs in both of his events. In the 15-year-old men’s 60m, Nicholas placed 2nd of seven athletes in a personal best time of 7.70s, while in the 300m, Nicholas placed 4th of seven athletes in a personal best time of 43.49s. Well done Nicholas!
Like Nicholas, Ellie continues to improve and impress her coaches with her results and determination. Ellie won the 15-year-old women’s 300m, finishing 1st of seven athletes in a personal best time of 43.78s. In the 60m, Ellie finished 4th of twelve athletes in a personal best time of 8.62s. Finally, a reluctant competitor in the 600m, Ellie surprised herself (but not her coaches!) by finishing 2nd of five athletes in 1:52.25s. Well done Ellie!
Max also had an outstanding meet, recording two top-three finishes and another personal best. In the 600m, Maxfinished 2nd of four athletes in 1:53.34s and in the 1200m, Max looked very strong and finished 2nd in 4:35.18s. In the 60m, Max finished 4th of six athletes in a personal best time of 9.36s. Well done Max!
Ben, our youngest male competitor at 12 years, was another athlete who recorded top three finishes in all of his individual events. Ben won the 60m in a personal best time of 9.41s. Ben was also 2nd in his first attempt at the 1200m, where he finished in 4:45.41s, and 3rd in his first attempt at the 600m, where he finished in 2:04.92s. Well done Ben!
Katie tackled two new events on Saturday and finished in the top three in both events. Katie won the 600m, finishing 1st of five athletes in 1:50.56s and was 3rd in the 1200m, where she finished in 4:27.12s. Well done Katie!
One of our youngest female competitors, twelve-year-old Mia, finished 2nd in both of her events. In the 60m, Miaplaced 2nd of eight athletes, finishing in 9.17s. In her first attempt at the 600m, Mia finished 2nd of five athletes in 2:05.86s. Another excellent meet! Well done Mia!
Aidan tried a couple of new events on Saturday. In the 60m, Aidan finished 4th of the 15-year-old boys in 8.64s, whileAidan was 2nd in the 600m, where he finished strongly in 1:43.09s. Well done Aidan!
Patrick also tried some new events at this meet. Patrick was 3rd of the 13-year-old boys in his first attempt at the 600m, where he finished in 2:01.21s, and 3rd in the 1200m, where Patrick finished in 4:39.68s. Patrick ran a personal best time of 9.50s in the 60m to finish 5th. Well done Patrick!
Jessica is another athlete who continues to impress her coaches at every meet. Jessica ran a personal best time of 46.65s in the 300m, where she finished 6th and, in her first attempt at the 600m, Jessica finished strongly in 1:57.67s.
Delainy had her best meet yet, finishing 5th in the 60m in a personal best time of 9.69s. Delainy was also 2nd in her first attempt at the 600m and 3rd in her first attempt at the 1200m. Well done Delainy!
Thank you Anna who, although she had finished competing by noon, stuck around for the rest of the afternoon to cheer on her teammates. Your teammates are lucky to have you, Anna!
Matthew ran a personal best time of 9.03s in the 60m to finish 5th of the 15-year-old boys while, in the same race,Charlie ran a personal best time of 9.39s in the 60m, where he placed 6th. Well done Matthew and Charlie!
Lauren G recorded a personal best time of 9.40s in the 60m, while Antha recorded a personal best time of 49.24s in the 300m. In that same 300m, Emily ran a personal best time of 49.84s to finish 8th. Well done Lauren, Antha andEmily!
Jasmine was 4th of twelve 15-year-old girls in the 60m, and was running an excellent 600m until an asthma attack forced her to slow down. Well done Jasmine!
Sean tackled two new events on Saturday and established some tough standards to challenge himself with a future meets.
Well done athletes! It is very rewarding to see you reaping the rewards of your hard work. Enjoy the rest! You’ve earned it!
