May 12, 13, 14—2015: With a pair of victories apiece, Vikramjit Gondara and Daniel James led Valley Royal athletes at the Fraser Valley Track and Field Championships that took place in Abbotsford during this past week.
Gondara obliterated the junior boys hammer record throwing the ball and chain 57.99 meters, a full 10.27 meters further than the former record established by Abby Christian’s Derek Kampman in 2004. Not satisfied with his hammer record Gondara tossed the junior discus 46.10 meters to break the former record of 43.52 meters set by Barry McBain of Newton in 1969. It was a great start to the season for Gondara who at 16 years of age is considered to have all the ingredients needed for both the national and international stages in his specialty.
On the track, 15-year old Daniel James won both the junior boys 1500 and 800 meter events. James had little trouble winning the 1500m as he ran away from the field over the last 150m to win in a personal best time of 4:19.23. But James’s 800-meter victory was not as nearly as easy and it came after a hard fought battle with Walnut Grove’s Will Riley. With 150-meters to go Riley had a 30-meter lead on James but in final dash to the tape James put on a spurt that caught the Walnut Grove runner just two meters before the finish line and won with a personal best time of 1:59.75 to Riley’s 1:59.85.
As usual Tasha Willing was a busy young lady winning the senior girls shot put (11.98m) and added to that by placing second in the discus (35.08) and fourth in the hammer (44.47m).
Parmvir Waring had a busy three days of competition competing in three events that included four races. But despite the ambitious undertaking, Waring won the silver medal in the junior boys 1500m (4:23.33), came fourth in the 3-k run (9:36) and placed sixth in the 800m.
Michael Lambert won the junior boys high jump with a leap of 1.88m and then showed his diversity by placing third in the discus ((33.41m). Tim Bertness won the senior boys pole vault (3.40m) and was third in the javelin (44.37m) while Jayden Driver was the silver medalist in both the senior boys discus (37.25m) and hammer (49.06m).
Josh Adhemar had a few problems with his pacing between barriers but still had a convincing win in the senior boys 400-meter hurdles finishing with a personal best time of 56.77 finishing almost four seconds in front of his nearest competitor. Devon Kular was first in the junior boys pole vault (2.60m) and came fifth in the 300m hurdles (45.74).
The senior girls’ 800m was a close race with the first four runners finishing within a one second difference of each other. Hannah Konrad came second in the two-lap race (2:18.03) with Catlin Leblanc placing fourth (2:18.83). Konrad also placed second in the 400m (61.10) while Leblanc was fourth in the 1500m (4:51.87).
Kate Sokolowski placed fifth in the junior girls 1500m with a personal best 4:57.92 and was second in the 800m with another personal best 2:20.83. Angela Gourley secured a third place finish in the senior girls 100m hurdles (16.73) and was sixth in the 400m hurdles (72.52) an event she was running for the first time.
All the above athletes have advanced to the BC High School Championships that take place on June 4, 5, 6 in Langley.