Heading into this year’s high school provincial track and field championship, held in Medicine Hat on June 4 and 5, Glendon School’s Coach Daryn Galatiuk was quite optimistic about his athletes’ chances of attaining success.
And although none of the nine athletes from Glendon took home any medals, as a team, the students took home something better – the 2010 Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) 1A track and field banner.
Galatiuk admits that going into the provincial tournament, the team wasn’t really expecting to have any medal finishes, but the team also knew that to be successful, it would have “to go a little beyond expectations.”
And that is exactly what happened. Although the competition was close, in the end, the Glendon athletes would step it up, and make some respectable finishes. Jeanelle Dargis would place second in the preliminaries for the Girls 400 metre dash (senior), then go on to finish fifth overall, and be the school’s highest placing.
Overall, Galatiuk is obviously happy with the athletes’ performances, and hopes to be a contending school in 2011 as well. The school will lose three of its senior athletes, but has a few athletes coming back from injury, and the coach believes there is certainly potential to become repeat champions.
But, it’s not only Glendon School that has become a top northeast school at the provincial track and field competition. This area of the province has a number of schools that came away with impressive finishes, such as St. Paul Regional High School.
Galatiuk believes that the competition between the nearby schools has allowed for the students to be that much more competitive, but also has created some “camaraderie” between the schools.
Although Regional managed to win the 3A championship last year, the school placed second this year, and was beat out by last year’s second place school, Eagle Butte High School, from Dunmore, Alta.
Regional High School Coach Hank Smid was very impressed with his athletes’ performances this season, and he says the students “represented the school very well.”
He adds, “First would be nice, but second is nothing to shake your head at.” Regional was only 40 points away from the first placed school, which is only a matter of a few events in track and field.
Over the past eight years, Regional has placed either first, second, or third, he notes, adding, the school has a strong track and field program. In Medicine Hat, Regional athlete Eric Laramee managed to grab the school’s only medal – a bronze medal for Boys Triple Jump (junior).
Other local athletes who took home medals include Marc Dubeau of Ecole Mallaig School. Dubeau made an impressive performance in the Boys Discus Throw (junior) and placed first in his category, throwing almost four meters farther than the second placed athlete.
“This past meet was lots of fun and everyone did amazing,” says Dubeau, adding, “It was very nice to win gold but the experience was even better. I can't wait until next year.”
Terry Garner of Ashmont Secondary also took home a medal. Garner placed second in the Girls Discus Throw (senior).
Mallaig School – fourth place for 1A schools
Bonnyville Centralized High School – sixth place for 2A schools
Westwood Community High School (Fort McMurray) – ninth place for 3A schools
Lloydminster Comprehensive High School – ninth place for 4A schools
