Following a day to remember that saw local athletes claim 16 medals, R.F. Staples School’s track team are the 3A North Central zone champions.
Eighteen athletes made the trip to Edmonton’s Foote Field May 19, bringing home five gold, five silver and six bronze medals to clinch the title. The medals are for individual competition, then students earn points towards the overall championship, explained senior track coach Meaghan McKenzie.
“Morinville was slightly ahead of us, but we pulled ahead in the end,” she said.
“You never know what competition will bring out. A little bit of competitiveness and challenge gets their A-game going.”
Students, she explained, have been hard at work, training twice a week throughout the month of April with training sessions at St. Albert’s Fowler Athletic Park through May.
Use of the facility gives athletes access to the equipment they need to maintain yearly appearances at the meet.
“That gives them access to a proper track, long jump and throwing circles for kids doing discus,” McKenzie said.
Top competitors, she added, will now be eligible for provincial championships in Edmonton June 3-4.
Of R.F. Staple’s 18-athlete team, 11 of this year’s competitors will be eligible for the Alberta-wide event, one more than last year. McKenzie said that, though R.F. Staples usually fields a solid contingent for the finals, this year’s zone championship makes the victory especially sweet.
“It’s definitely an accomplishment, considering the track season is fairly short,” McKenzie added.
Maygen Fairholm – bronze in 100m, bronze in 4x400m relay
Levi Foster – gold in 4x100m relay
Tyson Holgate – gold in 4x100m relay, silver in hurdles, bronze in long jump
Cole Huppertz – gold in high jump, gold in long jump, gold in triple jump
Kaylee Huppertz – bronze in 4x400m
Bryan Letts – gold in 4x100m
Jessica Lunger – gold in triple jump, bronze in 4x400m relay
Renea Meston – bronze in discus
Katelynn Milburn – bronze in high jump
Emma Siegle – silver in triple jump
Cameron Taylor – silver in 1,500m
Anastasia Toporowski – silver in 1,500m
Joshua Verbeek – silver in discus
