OKM, KSS race to senior team wins at Central Okanagan track and field meet

With twin sisters Leah and Rhianne McWilliam setting the pace, the Okanagan Mission Huskies ran away with the Central Okanagan senior girls track and field title at the Apple Bowl on Tuesday.

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The OKM pair finished first and second respectively in the 100-, 200- and 400-metre events and anchored the Huskies’ win in the both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays as their team accumulated 119 points overall, 51 more than second place Aberdeen Hall Prep School Gryphons.

Leah McWilliam sprinted to first place in the 100-metre with a time of 13.22 seconds while Rhianne finished second in 13.35. The 200-metre final saw Leah take first in 27.03 seconds and Rhianne second in 27.33. Leah’s winning time in the 400 was 1:01.49, while Rhianne was the runner-up in 1:02.98.

Meanwhile, OKM teammate, Noemi Stroda contributed significantly to the Huskies’ senior girls win with a pair of firsts and a second place on Tuesday. She claimed top spot in the shot put with a throw of 8.03 metres and won the hammer with a distance of 22.63 metres. She was second in the senior discus behind Miranda Hutton (23.03) of Kelowna Secondary School with a throw of 22.26.

The Central Okanagan senior boys’ team championship went to the Kelowna Owls, led by a pair of athletes who claimed double victories at the Apple.

Sean Bergman, a gold-medal winner in the 2,000-metre steeplechase at the B.C. high school track and field championships last year with a personal-best time of 5:55.03, gave every indication he’ll be a favourite to defend his title by winning Tuesday’s race in 5:58.82.

Bergman also cruised to victory in the 3,000 metres with a clocking of 8:48.73. Teammate Chet Goerzen finished second in both the steeplechase (6:33.88) and the 3,000 (8:56.73).

Alex Taylor contributed a pair of wins to the Kelowna Secondary School total, crossing first in both the 100 metres (11.57) and the 200 metres (23.06).

The KSS junior boys also claimed a team title (28 points ahead of the Const. Neil Bruce Cubs), led by Joel Aitken’s first-place finish in both the 300-metre hurdles (43.36) and the triple jump (11.93) and a third place in 100-metre hurdles.

First place overall in the junior girls team competition went to the Dr. Knox Falcons with a 151 points. George Elliot Coyotes placed second with 110 points.

About 410 athletes took part in the zone event, with the top three finishers qualifying for the Okanagan Valley championships being held in Kamloops May 18. They’ll be vying for the top four spots available in each event at the provincial high school championships scheduled for Nanaimo June 2-4.

The following are the other triple winners at the zone championships on Tuesday:

Junior Girls

Phoebe Price -Roberts (Aberdeen), javelin (33.16), hammer (50.31) and discus (26.22).

Muriel Stroda (OKM), long jump (5.05), high jump (1.53) and 80 hurdles (12.76).

Grade 7 Boys

Camden Elkin (OKM), discus (25.93), triple jump (10.53) and long jump (4.66).

Aiden Vint (KLO), 100 metres (13.09), 200 metres (27.23) and 80 hurdles (13.98).

Grade 7 Girls

Emma Cannan (Dr. Knox), 400 metres (1:07.99), 200 metres (27.42) and 100 metres (13.64).

Double winners:

Senior Girls

Willow Benitz (Aberdeen), 1,500 metres (5:19.48) and 800 metres (2:29.06.

Junior Girls

Taya Hanson (KSS), shot put (10.73) and 400 metres (59.52).

Rylee Paulson (George Elliot), 1,500 steeplechase (6:30.79) and 3,000 metres (12:30.49).

Bryn Walsh (KSS), 200 metres (26.73) and 100 metres (12.85).

Grade 8 Girls

Ashton Thorpe (Const. Neil Bruce), javelin (26.00) and discus (27.16).

Lindsay Maier (Dr. Knox), 400 metres (1:01.12) and 200 metres (27.28).

Grade 7 Girls

Ely Kokayko (Kelowna Christian) high jump and long jump (4.31).

Senior Boys

Austin Sandrin (Mt. Boucherie), javelin (47.67) and shot put (10.38).

Brandon Harder (George Elliot), long jump (5.94) and high jump (1.80).

Davis Hughes (Rutland), 400 metres (53.29) and 800 metres (1:58.00).

Junior Boys

Mitchell Steven (Const. Neil Bruce), high jump (1.65) and long jump (5.29).

Turner Woodruff (OKM), 1,500 metres (4:31.98) and 800 metres (2:13.79).

Jesse Benneke (Mt. Boucherie), 100 metres (11.33) and 200 metres (23.22).

Grade 8 Boys

Jordan Barker (George Elliot), discus (29.79) and 400 metres (1:02.95).

Nolan Ulm (KLO), triple jump (10.40) and 100 metres (12.57).

Grade 7 Boys

Mateo Faraguna (OKM), 1,500 metres (5:01.68) and 800 metres (2:26.48).