CLUB SHINES IN HOSTING THE BC SUMMER GAMES TRACK MEET: VR ATHLETES WIN FIVE MEDALS
It’s been more than two years since the Valley Royals hosted a track and field meet but the job accomplished during the Athletics portion of the BC Summer Games showed that the club is still more than capable of staging a first rate competition. To go along with the organizational success, club athletes won five medals during the two-day meet.
“This was undoubtedly one of the best organized of the BC Games Athletics competitions and as a club member that makes me feel proud,” stated Dale Loewen the government appointee to oversee the Games track and field segment.
A successful meet means that hours of planning has had to go into the production and thanks for that has to go to Debbie Foote who assumed the role of Athletics Chair and as such attended numerous Games’ meetings and made the appointments that are vital to a successful meet. Serving under Debbie was Sue Northey in the position of meet director and her firm hand meant that that no significant problems arose. Dave Driver had the unenviable chore of assuring that all equipment and implements needed were provided and positioned at the various venues. Jason Swan and Shirley Young, as usual, timed the track events and processed results. John and Carol Cull coordinated the officiating and made certain that all event areas were covered while Peter Fejhar made several trips to Abbotsford from his home in the lower mainland, including the days of the Games, to assure that the venue was technically up-to-scratch.
And like an army, the array of officials and volunteers need to be fed if they are to retain the energy to carry out their assignments. Thanks for this go to Elaine Motion and Christa McAuley, and their crew of volunteers, who first of all scrubbed out the food room and then spent the next two days preparing and serving the food.
And high praise is extended to our young JD athletes who served as basket carriers transporting the contestant’s warm-ups from the start of a race to the finish and, despite the hot sun, remained with their assignments from beginning to end.
And there were countless other Valley Royal parents and athletes who performed a variety of duties and for that the club is very thankful.
And competitively club athletes won three individual and two relay medals. Rachel Mortimer completed her season on a high-note and was rewarded for following her coaches advise. Rachel, who loves to lead in the early portion of races but can pay dearly for that endeavor during the latter laps, with the firm encouragement of her coach, was much more patient this time. Rachel won the silver medal in the 2,000 meters (3:45.50) finishing just one second behind gold medalist Anna Maslechko (3:49,50). Mortimer took the bronze medal in the 1200 meters (3:45.50).
Josh Carsience, who is best known for his middle distance running, took up the pole vault for this competition and came away with a bronze medal with a height of 2.60 meters.
Elliott Payne threw the javelin 35.52m to finish 10th in his competition.
The club’s final medals were awarded to Cassidy Hutchison and Shaunika Suriya as members of the Zone 3 girls’ 4×400 meter relay team that won the gold medal.
