Local track and field athletes have been having success recently at the provincial and national levels. At the provincial meet in Nanaimo from July 10-12, 14-year-old Simon Nemethy—competing in the 14- and 15-year-old age group—came 2nd in the 1500 metre steeplechase. Simon also came 2nd in the 1200 metre, 3rd in the 2000 metre, and 7th in the 800 metre events, registering new personal best times in all four. The only students who beat him were aged 15, making Simon the fastest 14-year-old competing in those events.
In the 18- and 19-year-old age group, 18-year-old Alexander Nemethy had two personal bests, in the 100 metre (12.76 seconds) and 200 metre (26.23 seconds) events, finishing 5th in both. Alexander had previously competed at the Canadian Junior and Senior National Track and Field Championship in Edmonton, July 3-5. He placed 17th in the 5000 metre and 12th in the 3000 metre steeplechase, both with personal bests.
In the 16 and 17 age group in Nanaimo, 17-year-old Emma Floris placed 5th in both the 100 and 200 metre events. This past weekend Emma was in Quebec, competing in the Legion Youth Nationals event. She ran 12.94 seconds in the 100 metre on Friday, and 26.14 seconds in the 200 metre on Sunday, putting her in 26th and 23rd places respectively. Neither was a personal best time, but Emma was pleased with the way she ran.
Barbara Roden