Grade 9 track and field athletes are unable to advance to the provincial championships unless they compete and qualify as juniors at the Island championships.
If they could, Frances Kelsey Secondary would have had another 18 provincial qualifying performances for top-five results at the Island meet earlier this month. As it is, however, the future bodes extremely well for Kelsey track and field.
The strong showing by Kelsey's Grade 9s included a pair of gold medals, by Mackenzie Johnston in the girls high jump, and Daniel Devries in the boys shot put. Jace Hilton took silver in the boys 100m dash, as did Isaac Tonkin-Palmer in the 1500m. Collecting bronze medals were Robyn Zinkan in each of the girls 400m and 800m, Mackenna Posey in shot put, Tyler Leech in boys javelin and Devries in discus, along with the girls 4x100m relay team, boys 4x400m relay team, and one of Kelsey's two boys 4x100m relay foursomes.
The school's other boys 4x100m relay team would have qualified for provincials by finishing fourth, the same position as the girls 4x400m team. Damian Jones finished fourth in boys triple jump, and Leech was fourth in discus. Brooklyn Paisley was fifth in the girls discus, and Tyson Duffe was fifth in boys triple jump.
Cowichan Secondary School also had an impressive number of top-five finishes from its Grade 9 athletes, led by Emma Dewit, who placed first in the girls 100m and shot put, and second in the 200m.
Brandon Reymerink claimed silver medals in the boys shot put and triple jump, and Dawson Webb took bronze in the boys 1500m. Riley Wainman placed fourth in the boys 400m and fifth in the 800m, and was part of the school's fourth-place 4x400m team. Hannah Geldenhuys was fourth in long jump, Jillian Wallace was fifth in the 400m, and Brianna Ellison was fifth in triple jump.
Hannah Tuplin of Chemainus Secondary had two provincial qualifying results, placing first in the girls javelin and third in shot put.