Brooks Secondary School sent a group of eight students to compete in Langley at the BC High School Track and Field championships from June 8 to 10, with athletes bringing home medals.
According to coach Scott Glaspey, over the three days of fierce competition, the team brought back three medals, two fourth place spots, plus a sixth and seventh place.
The five junior team members (grades 9/10) placed 12th overall in BC, but would be likely in the top five or six in AA schools, according to Glaspey.
“One great indicator is that the junior boys and girls both placed higher as teams than perennial senior champion Oak Bay, from Victoria,” stated Glaspey in a media release.
Top individual performances go to grade nine student Nelle Liefsoens, who brought home a hard-earned silver medal in 1,500-metre steeplechase with a time of 5:14; a huge personal best (PB) by 16-seconds, stated Glaspey.
“She was competing against grade nines and 10s, and also managed to capture fourth place in the 3,000 metre (10:29), another monster PB of 35 seconds,” stated Glaspey.
Ethan Hull ran a PB in 100-metre hurdles with a 15:18 clocking. He managed a fourth place in triple jump with a 12.06-metre distance.
Glaspey said unfortunately, Hull was disqualified in his strongest event, the 300-metre hurdles. His heat time of 42.60 was a PB and had him placed third going into the finals.
Glaspey stated that other strong performances came from grade nine newcomer Adam Bellafquih in the 1500-metre racewalk. In a hard-fought race, he earned a bronze medal with a 45-second PB of 7:57.
Sylena Klassen competed in the strong senior division and managed a sixth-place ribbon in triple jump, as well as 11th place in 100-metre hurdles and 18th in long jump. She then had to dash off and Uber to the Vancouver airport to get home for the graduation ceremony in Powell River. Her younger sister Dylan competed in the grade eight division and brought home a seventh place ribbon, also in triple jump.
“Any top eight finish in this meet is a fine accomplishment,” stated Glaspey. “These kids should be really proud.”
Three other athletes competed as younger, first-year athletes in their age groups. All finished in the top half of the competition, which should set them up as possible finalists for next year, added Glaspey.
Anna Carlson set a PB in 80-metre hurdles (13.50), missing the finals by 0.2 seconds and placing 11th. She was also 11th in triple jump, just a foot off her personal best.
Anthony Roberts equalled his PB’s in both triple jump (10.95) and high jump (1.65), where he was 14th.
Aria Thrasher ran close to a PB in the 400-metre race (61.57), where she missed the finals by 1.3 seconds and finished 15th.
In late May, Hull, Bellafquih and Roberts were joined by discus throwers Tristan and Hayden Morrison (sixth and seventh place) who helped the five-person junior boys team to finish third on Vancouver Island.
Only one athlete is moving on.
“We all thank Sylena for her hard work and dedication over five years, which included the ugly COVID-19 era,” added Glaspey. “All the coaches wish her the best in the future.”
Glaspey stated that next season, the tentative plan is for Brooks to host the North Island Championships in early May, which should give more local athletes a chance to see how they stack up in competitive track and field.
