Home track advantage paid off handsomely for the Valley Royals, as members of the local track and field club climbed the podium repeatedly at the Royals’ invitational meet on Saturday at Rotary Stadium.
Alexandria Siemens led the way, recording easy victories the youth women’s 1500 metres (4:49.37) and 800m (2:22.02). Using the meet as a training day, she won both events by placing more then 50 metres in front of her nearest competitors.
Other gold medals won by club members included Chantel Desch in the junior women’s 400m (59.71) and Zach Choboter in the midget boy’s long jump (6.03m).
Oliver Jorgensen had no trouble winning the youth men’s 1500m (4:22.27) and is aiming for a good time at the B.C. High School Championships.
Jeewan Grewal won the midget men’s hammer (39.64) and came second in the discus (36.03m). Spencer Spenst won the midget men’s pole vault (2.80m) and was second in the high jump (1.60m), while Janelle Hay was first in the junior women’s 1500m (5:11.26) and came fifth in the 800m (2:24.20).
First-year Royal and all-round athlete Callum Pilgrim got her career as a club runner off to an excellent start by placing second in the midget women’s 800m (2:23.62) and third in the 1200m (3:59.74). Teammate Hannah Konrad was right behind Pilgrim in the 800m (2:24.03), then showed her diversity by rushing over to the high jump area for a third place in that event (1.50m). Adam Bingert has shaken off an early-season injury and won two medals on Saturday with a second-place finish in the midget boys 800m (2:2:11.19) and a third in the 1200m (3:40.15).
Midget women’s sprinter Hailey Gibson ran a solid race in the 100m and produced a second-place finish (12.88). Kayla Lennea turned in a competitive performance to place second to Desch in the 400m (61.20) and third in the 800m (2:21.94). Francesca Jackman was second in the junior women’s 400m hurdles (71.02) with Jordyn Visser just behind her (72.02).
The Lambert brothers, Adam and Jesse, won six medals between them in the throwing events. Adam was second in the youth men’s shot put (12.00m) and discus (41.20) and came third in the hammer (36.60), while brother Jesse had second-place finishes in both the junior men’s shot put (13.10m) and discus (43.03m) and was third in the hammer (43.03m).
Bronze medalists included Thomas Laurie (youth men’s high jump, 1.65m), Sarya Ross (youth women’s 1500m, 6:13), and Manpreet Grewal (youth women’s hammer, 35.41m).
Complete results can be found at www.valleyroyals.org.