Yorkton's Showcase Track Meet on April 27 for grade 4-8 students exceeded expectations in more ways than one. Not only did the young track stars show off their impeccable athletic abilities, but they also displayed selfless attitudes.
"There was a student who was 9-years-old hugging a student from another school as a congratulations for finishing the 600m," said Jason Trost, who helped organize the event.
"There were a lot of other selfless instances including a relay team competitor pull a muscle in his leg of the race and limp the baton to his teammate just so his team stood a chance at winning the event."
As for impressing through their athletic ability, the elementary school students put on a clinic.
"We got a chance to see who can jump the highest or furthest, who can throw the farthest and who can run the fastest," said Trost. "The grade 7 and 8 students that were in attendance have a keen interest in track. They may have that competitive spirit, they may want to use the event as a training session for the upcoming outdoor season or they may have just wanted to come and have some fun. Either way, our intent with this meet is not to raise Olympic Athletes in the GSSD, if that happens as a result, great! What our committee wants to do is improve the well-being of all our students and we feel that a friendly, fun competition will do exactly that."
It's unclear how many people were in attendance, but the parking lot and the stands were full.
"The event was certainly well received by those in attendance," said Trost. "People like to see children succeed. That's why it's called the "Showcase Meet." The energy a child puts put forth is contagious and we Showcase their children's athletic talents. I think the people in attendance appreciate that. It's tough to estimate how many people were actually there; let's just say there were more cars in the parking lot than potholes."
The athletes at the Showcase Meet had to advance to the event the prior weekend at the Standards Meet. Of the 1,400 students from 27 different schools who took part in the first meet, 500 advanced to the Showcase Meet.
Trost would like to thank the volunteers who helped make the event possible.
"It takes a large number of people to coordinate and run an event like this. We have a strong committee of people from around the GSSD who continually strive to make this event better every year. We also have a large number of people who volunteer their Saturdays to register students, marshall athletes, time the track, rake the long jump pit and so on. I hope the volunteers realize their role in helping the youth of our communities."
Girls' top-3 results
Grade 4 girls' 50m dash: 1. Sara Lajeunesse, PJ Gillen. 2. Megan Shervan, Canora Junior. 3. Katelyn Kraushaar, Grayson School. Grade 4 girls' 600m run: 1. Torrie Patterson, PJ Gillen. 2. Tiara Yagelniski, Sturgis Elementary. 3. Gracyn DeCock, Hoffman Elementary. Grade 4 girls' 4x25 mile relay: 1. PJ Gillen. 2. Columbia. 3. Canora Junior and McKnoll. Grade 4 girls' high jump: 1. Courtney Gilbey, McKnoll. 2. Haley Desomie, Columbia. 3. Amy Wileman, Hoffman Elementary. Grade 4 girls' long jump: 1. Emily Braithwaite, Preeceville. 2. Samantha Thompson, Columbia. 3. Erin Yeadon, Davison. Grade 5 girls' shot put: 1. Melissa Crowdis, Hoffman Elementary. 2. Sara Lajeunesse, PJ Gillen. 3. Skylar Yurkiw, Columbia. Grade 5 girls' 50m dash: 1. Aubrei Diaz, Columbia. 2. Hannah Adam, Yorkdale Central and Kyrah Fogg, Invermay. Grade 5 girls' 600m run: 1. Sadie McGriskin, Kamsack High School. 2. Tamera Auchstaetter, FLS. 3. Jasmine Mucha, Davidson. Grade 5 girls' high jump: 1. Ellyshia Enge, Invermay. 2. Hope Werle, Churchbridge. 3. Shaelyn David, Kamsack High School. Grade 5 girls' long jump: 1. Jordyn Bell, Davison. 2. Reanna Solonas, Sturgis Elementary. 3. Shaelyn David, Kamsack High School. Grade 5 girls' shot put: 1. Tori Sauser, Churchbridge. 2. Kacie Meroniuk, Sturgis Elementary. 3. Kylie Severson, Davison. Grade 6 girls' 50m dash: 1. Natasha Fey, Invermay. 2. Kierra Napady, Davison. 3. Ariana Remus, Langenburg. Grade 6 girls 600m run: 1. Sarah Novakowski, Yorkdale Central. 2. Jill Gulka, Canora High. 3. Hannah Pennell, Kamsack High School. Grade 6 girls' high jump: 1. Janaye Prieb, Davidson. 2. Ashley Buenneke, Yorkdale Central. 3. Natasha Fey, Invermay. Grade 6 girls' long jump: 1. Bryn Nystrom, Yorkdale Central. 2. Kierra Napady, Davison. 3. Natasha Fey, Invermay. Grade 6 girls' shot put: 1. Kelli Sparrowhawk, Yorkdale Central. 2. Shae-Lynn Forster, Esterhazy High School. 3. Olivia Gordon, McKnoll. Grade 7 girls' 1500m run: 1. Kassidi Oberkirsch, Melville Comp. 2. Alexa Ottenbreit, Grayson. 3. Kayley Harvey, Saltcoats School. Grade 7 girls' 50m hurdles: 1. Brooke Hausermann, Kamsack High School. 2. Emma Hoffert, Saltocats School. 3. Emma Just, Yorkdale Central. Grade 7 girls' high jump: 1. Sarah Sutter, Springside. 2. Shayna Dubas, Invermay. 3. Emma Hoffert, Saltocats School. Grade 7 girls' triple jump: 1. Emma Hoffert, Saltcoats School. 2. Jayne Hearn, Melville Comp. 3. Cassidy Entz, Churchbridge. Grade 7 girls' shot put: 1. Kassidi Oberkirsch, Melville Comp. 2. Megan Steranka, Invermay. 3. Morgan Fleury, Melville Comp. Grade 8 girls' 1500m run: 1. Radiance Harris, Melville Comp. Grade 8 girls' 50m hurdles: 1. Hannah Herman, Yorkdale Central. 2. Sean Thompson, Saltcoats School. 3. Sawyere Dilworth, McKnoll. Grade 8 girls' high jump: 1. Jennifer Haczkewicz, McKnoll. 2. Sierra Cook, McKnoll. 3. Sean Thompson, Saltocats School, Raven Markussen, Canora High, and Renee Walker, Calder. Grade 8 girls' triple jump: 1. Alanna DeCorby, Langenburg. 2. Sean Thompson, Saltcoats School. 3. Hannah Herman, Yorkdale Central. Grade 8 girls' shot put: 1. Sierra Cook, McKnoll. 1. Brooklyn Andrusiak, Kamsack High School. 3. Kathryn Law, Columbia. Grade 4/5 girls' 4x25 relay: 1. Yorkdale Central School. 2. Canora Comp. 3. Davison. Grade 5/6 girls' 4x25 relay: 1. Yorkdale Central. 2. Canora Comp. 3. Davison. Grade 7/8 girls' 4x25 relay: 1. McKnoll. 2. Melville High School. 3. Kamsack High School.
Boys' top-3 results
Grade 4 boys' 50m dash: 1. Val Declines, Columbia. 2. Josh Schick, Davison. 3. Riley Glaicar, Miller. Grade 4 boys' 600m run: 1. Eric Vosper, Hoffman Elementary. 2. Teagan Werner, Columbia. 3. Curtis McGriskin, Victoria. Grade 4 boys' 4x25 relay: 1. McKnoll. 2. Columbia. 3. Davison. Grade 4 boys' high jump: 1. Brady Bjornerud, McKnoll. 2. Shelby Wallin, Invermay. 3. Kyan Ell, Grayson. Grade 4 boys' high jump: 1. Eric Vosper, Hoffman Elementary. 2. Val Declines, Columbua. 3. Todd Pankratz, Preeceville. Grade 4 boys' shot put: 1. Reese McCormick, Yorkdale Central. 2. Ryan Rathgeber, Miller. 3. Curtis McGriskin, Victoria. Grade 5 boys' 50m dash: 1. Joshua Peppler, Langenburg. 2. Austin Dycer, Yorkdale Central. 3. Kaeden Koroluk, Columbia. Grade 5 boys' 600m run: 1. Josh Peppler, Langenburg. 2. Austin Dycer, Yorkdale Central. 3. Ryan Bear, Kamsack High School. Grade 5 boys' high jump: 1. Michael Andrew, Langenburg. 2. Leiden Nepinak, FLS. 3. Derian Souster, Yorkdale Central. Grade 5 boys' long jump: Joshua Peppler, Langenburg. 2. Joshua Herman, Yorkdale Central. 3. Tyler Buenneke, Yorkdale Central. Grade 5 boys' shot put: 1. Levi Keshane, Norquay. 2. Ethan Innes, Norquay. 3. Spencer Schick, Davison. Grade 6 boys' 50m dash: 1. Drew Kirk, Langenburg. 2. Sean Paligan, Preeceville. 3. Ethan Bewcyk, Churchbridge. Grade 6 boys' 600m run: 1. Drew Kirk, Langenburg. 2. Sean Paligan, Preeceville. 3. Nathan Head, Preeceville. Grade 6 boys' high jump: 1. Drew Kirk, Langenburg. 2. Cole Rubletz, Norquay. 3. Garion Miller, Columbia. Grade 6 boys' long jump: 1. Garion Miller, Columbia. 2. MJ Saracho, Columbia. 3. Gavin Oystrick, Columbia. Grade 6 boys' shot put: 1. Julian Papequash, Norquay. 2. Colby Nagy, MacDonald. 3. Cole Rubletz, Norquay. Grade 7 boys' 1500m run: 1. Kaito Farquharson, Saltcoats School. 2. Jordan Repsch, McKnoll. 3. Carter Lake, McKnoll Lake. Grade 7 boys' 50m hurdles: 1. Denton Dietz, Kamsack High School. 2. Kyle Werle, Langenburg. 3. Brad Newton, Yorkdale Central. Grade 7 boys' high jump: 1. Denton Dietz, Kamsack High School. 2. Tyson Lasko, FLS. 3. Ben Shick, Melville Comp. Grade 7 boys' triple jump: 1. Denton Dietz, Kamsack High School. 2. Brennin Stein, Columbia. 3. Kaito Farquharson, Saltcoats School. Grade 7 boys' shot put: 1. Denton Dietz, Kamsack High School. 2. Jaiden Friesen, Columbia. 3. Kane Ross, Melville Comp. Grade 8 boys' 1500m run: 1. Dylan Walchuk, Melville Comp. 2. Jarred Groeneveld, Churchbridge. 3. Austin Olson, Yorkdale Central. Grade 8 boys' 50m hurdles: 1. Ryan Nussbaumer, Columbia. 2. Devon Frounfelter, Yorkdale Central. 3. Skyler Soldat, Dr. Brass. Grade 8 boys' high school: 1. Devon Frounfelter, Yorkdale Central. 2. Ryan Nussbaumer, Columbia. 3. Austin Olson, Yorkdale Central. Grade 8 boys' triple jump: 1. Jarred Groeneveld, Churchbridge. 2. Jel De Jesus, Yorkdale Central. 3. Dylan Sharp, Yorkdale Central. Grade 8 boys' shot put: 1. Skyler Soldat, Dr. Brass. 2. Carter Rodgers, Saltcoats School. 3. Cole Esquash, Dr. Brass.
