The Maple Ridge Ramblers hosted the biggest track and field meet in the school district on Wednesday, as the annual Nick Wilkes Invitational attracted 21 teams from around the province.
“Our team did really, really well,” said Ramblers coach Ken Elphick, even though many of his senior athletes were saving themselves for this weekend’s Oregon Relays and didn’t compete.
It is a teaching meet, where young athletes learn the ropes before going on to regional competition.
Elphick said he also got 18 staff members from MRSS to volunteer their time, and leadership students were trained in how to run they events. Now their new expertise will be used to help put on the district’s elementary school track and field meet.
The meet is named for a young man who was one of the all-time best athletes at MRSS, and set a new provincial record in the decathlon, before going on to a track and field scholarship in the U.S. He was killed in a car accident, and the annual Ramblers meet was renamed in his memory.
Some of the top results by district athletes:
• Jorrin Lenton, MRSS, first in senior boys 100m hurdles;
• Ashley Chun, MRSS, first in senior girls 100m hurdles;
• Julie Ydenburg and Simone Mikolay of PMSS ran second and third in the senior girls 400m;
• Ryan Ibbitt and Trent Bayer of MRSS ran first and second in the Grade 12 boys 400m;
• in the Grade 8/9 girls 800m, Marquesis Haintz of MRSS and Serena Bath of Meadowridge were first and second;
• Marshall Shupe of MRSS finished second in the Grade 8/9 boys 800m.
Locals took the first three spots in the Grade 10-12 girls 800m as Madelyn Huston of THSS was first followed by MRSS runners Jamie Hennessey and Mikayla Tinkham.
In the Grade 10-12 boys 800m, Liam Foster of PMSS was third.
In the Grade 8 boys long jump, Garibaldi’s Paul Sage-Brownlow took first and MRSS’ Elliott Payne was third.
Emily Morley of MRSS was second in the junior girls long jump.
In the junior boys long jump, Westview’s Alex Guraliuk took first and Garibaldi’s Steven Zhang second.
MRSS took all three top spots in the senior girls long jump: Aimee Milliard, first; Elise Carelse, second; and Nichole Chun, third.
Aaliyah Howard and Charlotte Elphick of MRSS finished first and second in Grade 8 girls shot put.
Simon Miyashita and Hudson Coumont of MRSS were first and second in Grade 8 boys shot put.
Daniel Jo of MRSS won the senior boys shot put and discus.
Jake Loftus of MRSS was second in the junior boys javelin, and Darren Smerdal of THSS third.
Tristan Coumont was second in senior boys javelin,
Kira Hunohak of PMSS was second in Grade 8 girls high jump.
Darian Smerdao of THSS was second in junior boys high jump, and Graeme Roberts of Westview third.
Spencer Morrison and Haintz took first and third in Grade 8 girls javelin.
Emily Morrison was second in senior girls javelin.
Jesse Speiss of Garibaldi was third in Grade 8 girls discus.
Aidan Grout of PMSS won the Grade 8 boys high jump.