Yellowjackets have Success at 2018 Panda Open
The Lakeland Yellowjackets track & field team continue to impress at track meets this season, with some impressive scores at the 2018 Panda Open. The meet, hosted at the UofA in Edmonton, sees some of the best amateur track & field clubs from across Alberta; including the Yellowjackets. Coach Larry Godzuik says it was a good weekend for all of the club.
“This was a midget and older meet,” Coach Godzuik explains that the club was exposed to come higher calibre competition. It allowed members to really push themselves and discover where they land in the spectrum. “It’s mostly varsity kids, so the U-16 and U-18 categories didn’t have a lot of kids in them,
Mason Sartain was a star during the weekend, says the coach, “Mason had a really exceptional meet. He jumped 6.37m in the long jump. For a grade 10 boy that’s a significant distance.” Mason captured a new personal best with the jump and a club record…. Oh and also a first place finish! The teen also saw success in the 60 metres with a 3rd place finish and a new personal best time of 7.27 seconds. On Sunday, he ran for 23.75 seconds in the 200 metre, capturing another personal best and club record in the U-18 category.
Four of the club members celebrated their first track meets, says the coach. Madison Sartain, Chase Kavalec , Marisa Galant and Sierra Gielp are all new the experience and each left lasting impressions.
“I want to thank all the parents and Kevin Sartain for helping guide the kids on Saturday when I wasn’t there,” Coach Godzuik says it’s thanks to his team, parents and volunteers that the kids are able to enjoy and excel at track & field.
Scores
2018 Panda Open – Saturday Results
Alese Sartain – U18
60m – 1st -8.25s
Long Jump – 2nd – 4.77m
Mason Sartain – U18
60m – 3rd – 7.27s (new PB)
Long Jump – 1st – 6.37m (New PB and Club Record)
Marisa Galant – U18
60m – 6th – 8.85s
Long Jump – 5th – 4.05m
Damica Tremblay – U16
High Jump – 3rd – 1.35m
Chase Kavalec – U16
60m – 5th – 8.24s
Long Jump – 3rd – 4.96m
Caleb Sartain – U16
60m – 8th – 9.48s
Shot Put – 3rd – 7.70m
Madison Sartain – U16
60m – 18th – 9.65s
Long Jump – 14th – 3.52 m
Shot Put – 2nd – 7.20m
Sierra Griep – U16
60m – 20th – 9.68s
Long Jump – 15th – 3.38m
2018 Panda Open – Day 2 Results
Mason Sartain
U18 200m – 23.75s (PB and club record)
Alese Sartain
U18 200m – 27.88s (PB and club record)
Miriam Godziuk
U20 Weight Throw – 10.58m (PB)
Marisa Galant
U18 Triple Jump – 9.23m
Sierra Griep
U16 200m – 33.61s
Chase Kavalec
U16 200m – 27.86s
The last track meet for the club is March 3-4. “This next event is the combined events championships. They do group events, like heptathlon. Some kids do 5 or 7 events. There are some individual events, which most of our kids do, as well.” There will be 17 club members heading to the meet, with many tykes and young club members trying it out for the first time.
The coach says the club has really been able to excel since the track at the Centennial Centre has been opened up for the club’s private use twice a week. “We have 52 registered track members. Up from 43 last year and up a lot from our 15 from what we used to have,” the coach explains the club has grown and is utilizing the space given to their maximum abilities. The club is very flexible and works with other sports. Many times kids will be in multiple disciplines and use track to complement other sports. For example, there are many kids who also play football, wrestling and gymnastics.
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