Nine athletes from the Yorkton Legion Track Club attended Saskatoon's annual Sled Dogs Track and Field Meet on Saturday, January 26.
Despite the Yorkton natives being up against some of Western Canada's top athletes, they shined in the meet.
"We had some great milestones at the annual Sled Dogs Track and Field Meet in Saskatoon," said Marcel Porte, Team Manager of Yorkton Legion Track Club. "Some of our club members hit their personal bests, while others competed in an event that they never have before and one athlete hit a milestone that he never thought he could achieve."
Jaden Porte stood out as one of Yorkton's top performers. He won first in the 1,000 m with a time of 2:40.26, edging Greg Hetterley - Western Canadian 1,200 m and 2,000 m champion from Regina Queen City Striders - and Mathew Johnson - runner up 1,200 m and 2,000 m champion also from Regina Queen City.
The victory was especially sweet for Porte as he seen his vigorous training pay off.
"Greg and Mathew are the toughest competitors that I have been running against," said Porte. "Hard training has really paid off from a great coach, Kirk Flaman, as I finally beat my two main competitors."
Ben Koroluk - who placed second - and Grady Hawkins beat their personal best times in the midget 800 m.
Langenburg native Ethan Field excelled in the 60 m race, going on to win third place.
Final full results
Zoe Flaman (Yorkton): second place in peewee 600 m with a 2:11 time; sixth place in peewee 150 m with a 0:27.5 time. Grady Hawkins (Yorkton): sixth place in midget high jump with a 1.30 m jump; sixth place in 800 m with a 2:50 time. Ben Koroluk (Yorkton): sixth place in midget long jump with a 3.88 m jump; sixth place in youth 1,000 m with a 3:11 time; second place in midget 800 m with a 2:26 time. Ethan Field (Langenburg): fifth place in midget 300 m with a 0:44.93 time; third place in midget 60 m with a 0:08.12 time. Mikaila Ortynsky (Yorkton): eighth place in midget shot put with a 6:59 m toss. Jaden Porte (Yorkton): first place in youth 1,000 m with a 2:40 time; fifth place in youth long jump with a 5:55 m jump; second place in youth 1,500 m with a 4:25 time. Kellie Onda-Inglis (Yorkton): seventh place in youth 1,000 m with a 3:36 time; fifth place in youth 600 m with a 1:53 time. Breanna Melenchenko (Yorkton): sixth place in youth 300 m with a 0:46.57 time; 11th place in youth 60 m with a 0:08.65 time. Brandey Blahut (Yorkton): fourth place in senior 1,000 m with a 3:35 time; eighth place in senior 1,500 m with a 5:24 time.
