The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Heading into the City Provincials in Winnipeg, the Hapnot Collegiate Track and Field Team was at a bit of a disadvantage due to its lack of proper training facilities. But the seven athletes who competed in Provincials didn't let that stop them. Teslyn Anderson, Jaycee Halpin, Brett Jones, Rylan Veitch, Caitlyn Davidson, Destiny Henry and Michelle Trembley went to the city this past weekend to compete in a number of events between the track and the field. All the athletes, according to coach Craig McIntosh, did well. "For the kids to finish where they did was a huge accomplishment," said McIntosh. "It took a great deal of effort and determination." The physical education teacher said he, along with the other coaches, were "extremely happy and proud" of everyone. Taking a step back, all the top student athletes in Manitoba gathered together for Friday and Saturday as they competed against each other for their provincials placements. McIntosh said the competition between the athletes, from a coach's point of view, was "very intense." "You have the best track and field athletes in the province competing at a very high level," he says. He gave credit to his athletes. "To have these results without a real track is a real testament to all these kids,"he says. Comparing the facilities in Winnipeg to what the athletes prepare on in Flin Flon, there is a significant difference. The rubberized track in Winnipeg gives the athletes an advantage and makes the runner faster. Currently, athletes compete in the Rural Provincials, which were held in Brandon the previous weekend, to qualify for City Provincials. Word has been spreading that there is a chance the Rural Provincials will be taken away Ð having the athletes compete in zones and then straight to City Provincials. In doing this, McIntosh says the northern athletes would be put at even more of a disadvantage. "Our times are going to be lower," he says, making note of the athletes not having the rubberized track to send in their Rural Provincial times on. Being put at that disadvantage, McIntosh says athletes would be lower in the SEEDS ranking, which will result, for example, outside lanes for running as well as starting farther back when running in packs. "They are trying to eliminate the Rural Provincials, but I disagree with that," he says. When all was said and done, the athletes from Hapnot faired well with top 10 finishes and placing fourth overall for their school. "We won zones and then took 45 kids to Rural Provincials and then came in fourth overall," McIntosh says. "It says a lot about the kids and their determination and their desire." Not having ideal weather conditions didn't seem to set the athletes back either as they practiced in the rain, cold and even snow. "It shows the quality of athletes we have coming out of the town here. It's nice to see," says McIntosh. The following are results from the City Provincials in Winnipeg for Hapnot Collegiate: Teslyn Anderson Senior Girls 1,500 metre 7th 5:23.10 3,000 metre 7th 11:45.10 Jaycee Halpin Senior Girls Javelin Bronze 31.33 meters Brett Jones Junior Varsity Boys Javelin 4th 39.61 meters Rylan Veitch Junior Varsity Boys 800 meter 10th 2:16 Senior Girls 4x400 m Relay 5th 4:48 Teslyn Anderson Caitlyn Davidson Destiny Henry Michelle Trembley Medley Relay 7th Teslyn Anderson Caitlyn Davidson Destiny Henry Michelle Trembley
