A trio of Paul Kane High School track and field alumni were medal winners at the Canada West indoor championships last weekend in Winnipeg.
Rachel Francois competed for the Victoria Vikes and Garrett King and Niki Oudenaarden represented the Calgary Dinos at the meet.
Francois was named the Canada West female track athlete of the year after winning the 600 metres at 1:30.17 and the 1,000m at 2:45.32.
The fourth-year Vike also anchored the 4x800m relay team to a new Canada West record of 8:46.91 as the event winners and helped the 4x400m relay team achieve bronze at 3:53.65.
Her Canada West medal total of 13 includes eight gold.
The four-time Canada West first-team all-star is also the three-time defending CIS 600m champion.
King bounced back from a tough 300m race with a powerful last-lap kick to finish first in the 600m at 1:19.99.
Oudenaarden was selected the Canada West female field athlete of the year as the pentathlon champion with 3,981 points.
The former San Diego State Aztec was also the silver medallist in shot put (four kilograms) at 12.95m.
Next weekend Francois, King and Oudenaarden are competing at the CIS nationals at the University of Windsor.
The St. Albert SLAM midget A girls storm into next weekend’s provincials in Calgary with a perfect 17-0 record as the playoff winners in the Edmonton Youth Basketball Association.
In the EYBA final earlier this week the SLAM defeated SBA of Sherwood Park 55-52.
Five players scored between seven and 10 points, with Bronwen Barter leading the way with 10 for the SLAM.
“As a coach, I could not ask for anything more from such a wonderful group of girls and parents,” said bench boss Rick Stanley. “The girls were dedicated all the way through a very long season that started in September. As the season carried on games became closer and closer due to competition heating up but our girls learned to deal with challenges along the way. They became a very mentally tough and resilient group that I’m so proud of. We now look forward to a provincial title and hope that our team can stay healthy and focused for one more week.”
Visit www.stalbertgazette.com to view the team picture.
Meanwhile, the SLAM bantam A boys beat NEBA 32-26 for third place in the playoffs.
The SLAM midget B girls, bantam B boys and mini B boys are hooping it up in their respective finals as the EYBA season draws to a close.
Jakob Brinkhof, of the St. Albert Mustangs, was a double silver medallist in the youth division at the recent Canadian Indoor Track and Field Championships in Montreal.
Brinkhof, 17, was the runner-up in the shot put (five kilograms) and weight throw (9.07 kg).
His third of six throws in the shot put was the farthest at 13.98 metres.
The winner was Thomas Newdow of Brockville at 14.56m.
The second of three successful weight throws out of six attempts was Brinkhof’s best effort at 17.73m
John Reston of the University of Toronto Track Club placed first at 18.59m.
Two floor hockey teams from St. Albert retuned home with medals from the recent Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games in Grande Prairie.
The Wolves were awarded gold in the Hull division and the Warriors won bronze in the Howe/Lemieux division.
The Wolves are Turner Adamic, Jan Allard, Dan Catarig, Amanda Gossman, Jonathan Hamilton, Nicole Lacroix, Michael Maguire, Alexis Morgan, Nicholas Nadeau, Eric Scott, and Charlie Weinzierl.
The Warriors are Daniel Deacon, Robert Dziarmaga, Dusty Hjelsvold, Dan Huising, Dale Kelly, Mitch Lyle, James Morris, Michele Morris, Josh Petrone, Dallas Sorken, Michelle Tschetter and Phil Zuk.
A number of St. Albert Mustangs were recognized at the recent Athletics Alberta outdoor awards banquet.
Madelyn Curle was one of three nominees in the female midget category.
Owen Maj (peewee boys), Bronwyn Blayney (peewee girls) and Brady Galvin (bantam boys) finished in the top 10 at the provincial outdoor track and field championships and received an Award of Excellence plaque.
Walter David was also presented with the George Gemer Coach of the Year Award.
