Merritt Secondary School’s small but mighty track and field team took a trip up the highway to compete in the annual Battle of the Borders meet on April 26 and 27.
Even with the unseasonably cold temperatures, the Merritt contingent of nine athletes racked up ten top five finishes, with a number of Panthers landing on the podium.
“Despite being one of the coldest track days I can remember we had some warm results overall — especially for their first competition of the year,” said coach Randy Sheldon.
Mason Hintz led the way for the Panthers, earning the weekend’s lone gold medal for his performance in junior boys high jump. Hintz wasn’t the only junior boy to earn a podium spot, as Evin Baird was second in long jump. Baird also finished fourth in 200 metre dash and eighth in 100 metre, while his teammate Aryan Shokraee was 13th. Shokraee also finished seventh in the shot put event.
MSS Panthers (left to right) Mason Hintz, Evin Baird and Zachary Loewen. (Photo contributed).
Distance runner Zachary Loewen took eighth in 800 metre, 19th in 1500 metre and 11th in 3,000 metre among junior boys.
On the junior girls’ side, Isabelle Heard was one of Merritt’s better all around performers, earning a silver after clearing 1.45 metres in high jump. Heard also finished fifth in long jump, and 16th in 100 metre dash.
Isabelle Heard finished second in the junior girls high jump event. (Photo contributed).
Peter Sholtens also finished 16th in 100 metre dash among senior boys, but followed up with a fourth place finish in 200 metre, and a third in 110 metre hurdles.
Grade 8 Andee Walker finished eighth in high jump.
A pair of fresh-faced Grade 8 athletes had their first taste of action at a high school track and field meet. Andee Walker ran a gauntlet of challenging events, finishing 13th in 800 metre, ninth in 1,500 metre, and eighth in high jump.
Leif Ellingsen competes in senior boys shot put. (Photo contributed).
Aidan Dunsmore was fourth among Grade 8 boys in 1,500 metre and sixth in 800 metre.
Meanwhile, thrower Leif Ellingsen was fifth overall in the senior boys shot put event, and third in javelin throw.
