There’s just a matter of weeks remaining in the high school track season, but New Westminster’s Grace Fetherstonhaugh is treating it like seconds.
The Grade 12 distance runner continued to set a hard-to-follow pace by winning all three of her events at last week’s Burnaby-New West district championships at Swangard Stadium.
Fetherstonhaugh, who has signed a scholarship to attend and compete at Oregon State University beginning in September, topped the 1500- and 3000-metre events, then added the 1500m steeplechase title.
The 17-year-old won the 1500m in a time of 4:48.42, shy of her personal best of 4:31.38, set in April at the Oregon Relays. Fetherstonhaugh completed the 3000m in 9:49.20, with her PB from a year ago 9:33.71.
Two fellow Hyacks picked up double gold, with Kaitlyn Hanger topping the shotput and hammer throw, while adding a silverin high jump. Nisa Reehal, meanwhile, flashed her speed in crossing the finish line first in both the 200m (28.38) and 400m (1:04.54). Sarah Forgie scooped up a gold in high jump.
On the senior boys side, Balraj Khela tallied four medals for New West, with a gold in shotput, silver in discus, and bronze in both javelin and hammer throw. Jeremy Belcher won the 100m (11.78), took second in triple jump and completed the track and field hat trick with a bronze in long jump.
“We had the largest turnout for a districts in a while, even more than when we were winning the provincials in 2015 and ’16,” remarked New West track and field coach Brian MacMaster. “This year we have more athletes, so we have quantity and some good quality, too.”
The zones are slated for next Tuesday and Thursday at Burnaby Central Secondary.
The multiple gold achievements for Fetherstonhaugh, Hanger and Reehal were not unexpected, he noted.
“I think (Fetherstonhaugh) has it in her mind to finish high school off strong. We had (Reehal) in Grade 8 and she did really well and went to provincials then, but due to other commitments hadn’t seen her the past few years. This year she has had more time to race, and her speed is very impressive.
“(Hanger) competed in a strange combination – from throwing events to high jump, but she’s really successful at both,” added MacMaster.
Her finish in the hammer throw has already clinched a spot at the provincials. To qualify for the B.C.s, a top-two finish at next week’s zones is required.
Here are more Hyack results: Junior girls – Emma Dolman, 1st 80m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 3rd 200m; Ella Foster, 1st triple jump, 3rd 100m; Lauryn Savela, 1st javelin, shotput, 2nd long jump; Anja Tjernagel, 2nd 100, triple jump. Senior girls – Grace Fetherstonhaugh, 1st 1500, 3000m, 1500m steeple; Sarah Forgie, 1st high jump; Kaitlyn Hanger, 1st hammer throw, shotput, 2nd high jump; Nisa Reehal, 1st 200, 400m.
Junior boys – Santi Ainslie, 3rd 1500 steeple; Karl Arcadi, 2nd 400, 800m; Joshua Lim, 1st javelin. Senior boys – Jeremy Belcher, 1st 100m, 2nd triple jump, 3rd long jump; Josh Filafilo, 3rd 110m hurdles; Ben Jansen-Budzik, 3rd 800m; Ryan Jensen, 2nd 110m hurdles, 3rd 400m hurdles; Balraj Khela, 1st shotput, 2nd discus, 3rd javelin, hammer throw.
