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.
A couple of J.H. Kerr School students have accomplished what no two alumni of that fabled facility have ever achieved. Both Ashley McCartney and Matthew Felchun have placed first out of the entire province in their respective track and field events. When a person looks at the scale of Snow Lake's school, the size of the J.H. Kerr Track Team, and the amount of time they have during the season to practice their particular events, this achievement is nothing short of phenomenal. Matthew Felchun is a 16-year-old Grade 10 student whose Jr. Varsity forte is the Long Jump. However, he competes in the Triple Jump and 1,500 metre as well. At the recent Zone 11 Championships, he garnered first place in all three. With those results, he qualified to go on to Rural Provincials, where he placed 10 in 1,500, first in Triple Jump, and second in Long Jump. From there, he went on to the City Provincials to compete against the entire Province and brought home first in Long Jump as well as placing a very respectable fifth in Triple Jump. Ashley McCartney is also a 16-year-old Grade 10 student. Her Jr. Varsity specialty is Javelin, but she also competes in 4x100 Relay and Discus. The 4x100 Relay Team didn't do too well at zones, taking up last place; but on her own McCartney captured first in Discus, and first in Javelin. Moving on to Rural Provincials, she was 10 in Discus and secured first in Javelin. At the City's, she seized first in Javelin, thus capping the double gold performance for the School's Track Team. Both these local track stars agreed that they didn't run into much competition until they reached the City Provincials. "In my running event at Zones, I won by almost five seconds," said the personable young Felchun. "I won the Triple Jump by over a meter and a half and I won the Long Jump by 1.2 meters." Miss McCartney was of the same opinion. "I won my Javelin throws by over three meters in both Dauphin (Rural Provincials) and The Pas (Zones), and then in Winnipeg (City's) I won by just over a meter." McCartney's throw for the Gold at the City's was 29.4 meters. In Felchun's personal best at the City's he jumped six meters in the Long Jump, which bested his nearest competition by 25 cm. When asked what the highlight of their track and field year was, both agreed that being first in the Province was up there, but McCartney added, "Watching Matthew jump in the air after he finally got his six (meter jump) was something too. "He has been wishing for that forever." Felchun agreed that it was a great feeling to reach the elusive six-meter distance. Standing on the podium and accepting her medal was really something to experience, McCartney said, but it was all so unbelievable, she can't recall what she was thinking about. "It was pretty crazy," Felchun concurred. "But I was really thinking about my coach, Ashton Deighton. I would never have been there if it wasn't for her." McCartney agrees, "Ya, same with Mr. Deighton." "Our coaching was amazing," said Felchun expanding on this. "It was awesome." They both helped a lot McCartney added. In discussing McCartney and Felchun's performance thus far, Coach Steve Deighton talked about the results these two have put up, as well as other team members who went before them. "Well, we have had some good results at city track before," Coach Deighton recalled. "Ashton (Deighton) and Joel (Jackson) were always top 10, Lem (Randall) was third in Sr. Boys Discus, Leslie Taylor was fifth in Senior Boys' Long Jump, and Brittany Ventura was first in Jr. Varsity Girls Discus a few years ago. But we have never had two winners before." Deighton feels that natural ability goes a long way in putting up good numbers, but he also believes that to get to the top, kids have to want the podium and do what it takes to get there. "Ashton coaches the running and jumping and I work with the throwers," the long time coach elaborates. "She (Ashton) spent quite a bit of time working with Matthew indoors. He is very coachable in that he responds to suggestions for improvement without getting frustrated. He is motivated to do well, always gives 100 per cent effort. "He is also very lighthearted, as well as inquisitive and is always asking questions. See 'Natural' on pg. Continued from pg. "As far as Ashley goes, I really haven't spent much time with her," Deighton continued. "This season was so short and full of lousy weather. We only worked together three times, but you know as Alan (Beilman) likes to say 'you can't teach height', and Ashley has lots of that. She is naturally tall, quite strong, and has lots of natural ability. "She qualified for City provincials last year as well, and last summer went to a Legion Camp where she worked with a provincial team coach, Wayne McMann. I really can't take any credit for coaching her. "My role is becoming more of a manager. Ashton takes on much of the coaching, because she has competed at a higher level."
