A look ahead to OFSAA Learning House

A look ahead to OFSAA

June 27, 2011 – 2:23 am

A strong field of local athletes will be in Sudbury on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to take part in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations track and field championship. Here’s a quick look at the Waterloo Region competitors.

MIDGET GIRLS

Ivy Coulis (St. David) – 400 metres, 80-metre hurdles, 300-metre hurdles

She could reach the final in hurdles events.

Olivia Scagnetto (St. Mary’s) – 800 metres

A strong field will make reaching the final a tall hurdle.

Micaela McLean (Huron Heights) – 80-metre hurdles She’s the top-seeded participant going in with 12.19 seconds under her belt. A top-three finish is likely.

Courtney Brugger (Jacob Hespeler) – triple jump

A second-place finish would be a great result as she comes in with No. 3 seed of 10.38 metres.

Angela Mercurio (St. Mary’s) – triple jump It’s her event to lose as she comes in with an 11.53 effort and an OFSAA record in her sights.

Resurrection (Amanda Adlys, Brianne Snider, Danielle Buttinger, Blanaid McNally) – 4×100-metre relay.

Middle-of-the pack time coming in; reaching finals would be great.

MIDGET BOYS

Nick Bedi (WCI) – 800 metres, 1,500 metres

It gets tougher here; but he’s capable of top-6 finish in both races.

Connor Finnigan (Resurrection) – 100-metre hurdles, 300-metre hurdles

He’s the man to beat in the short hurdles with a 14.23-second seed time and should reach finals of long hurdles race.

Madalitso Mchaina (Southwood) – 300-metre hurdles, long jump, triple jump

Favoured to win the triple jump and third seeded in the long jump. Two medals a strong possibility.

Mitchell Yorke (St. David) – high jump

Paul Henning (Resurrection) – pole vault

He’s in the hunt for a medal with a 2.90 effort coming in.

Galt (Jothan Salfarlie, Jasper Arnoldi, Nathan Balesdent, Myles Deslandes) – 4×100-metre relay

Making it this far has been a great achievement. It will take a massive effort to reach the final.

JUNIOR GIRLS

Tegan Sauer (Forest Heights) – 100 metres

Comes in as middle of the pack with 12.92 seconds; making the final would be huge.

Rheanna Bulten (Preston) – 200 metres, 300-metre hurdles

Appears to have better chance of reaching hurdles final.

Monica Januszek (St. Mary’s) – 200 metres

Reaching the final would be huge.

Jennifer Rowe (KCI) – 800 metres

The fastest qualifier has a time of 2:17.94, while Rowe is at 2:21.92. Reaching finals will be huge accomplishment.

Jaimie Phelan (St. Mary’s) – 1,500 metres

The top-ranked performer should win going away. Would also likely win a medal over 800 metres but has been scratched.

Jordyn Visscher (Woodland Christian) – 3,000 metres

A top-10 result would be great in 24-person race.

Megan Parsons (Huron Heights) – 80-metre hurdles

It’s tough to call with so many competitors clocking similar times. Some good performers won’t even reach final.

Ashlyn Beckman (Galt) – high jump

A medal is possible if she can break her PB of 1.63 metres.

St. Mary’s (Shanette Walch, Jaimie Phelan, Tanisha Johnson, Monica Januszek) – 4×100 metres

Second-rated team could win gold.

Resurrection (Bailey Sprout, Niki Paiva, Kristen Dietrich, Emma Higgins) – 4×100 metres

Third-rated team could win gold.

JUNIOR BOYS

Jordan Sherwood (Cameron Heights) – 400 metres, 100-metre hurdles, 300-metre hurdles

A legitimate threat for three gold medals. He’s really that good.

Ben Flanagan (St. Mary’s) – 1,500 metres, 3,000 metres

The cream of the crop in 3,000 metres and near the top at 1,500. The crystal balls predicts one gold medal and a second medal of an undetermined colour.

Matt Bannon (Elmira) – 1,500 metres, 3,000 metres

His best chance of top-5 finish is over the longer distance.

Aaron Stemmler (St. David) – 100-metre hurdles, 300-metre hurdles

Will likely reach the finals in both distances.

Braden Cok (Sir John A. Macdonald) – high jump, long jump, triple jump

The gentle giant will be competitive in all three events, with wins possible in high and long jumps.

Riley Flanagan (St. Mary’s) – triple jump

A top-10 finish in field of 24 would be great.

James Burns (Bluevale) – discus

A silver or bronze is possible.

Sir John A. Macdonald (Matt Bell, Michael Piaseczney, Braden Cok, Dennis Hong) – 4×100 metres

They’ll want to make final and take it from there.

SENIOR GIRLS

Jellisa Westney (St. Benedict) – 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres

A joy to watch, it will be interesting to see how she performs with tougher opposition. Expect her to rise to the occasion and win three medals.

Chisomo Mchaina (Southwood) – 100 metres Will likely reach final.

Jenny Carrique (Grand River) – 200 metres

Reaching final will be big achievement.

Jessica Buttinger (Resurrection) – 800 metres

She’s banged up but should be in the hunt for top-5 finish.

Avrya Janke (KCI) – high jump

A top-10 finish would be nice.

Elisa Dorman (Cameron Heights) – pole vault

Another athlete capable of top-10 finish.

Jill Van Damme (Bluevale) – shot put, discus

She goes in as the No. 2 seed in the discus with 41.66-metre toss; top performer at 42.99.

St. Mary’s (Monica Januszek, Kaitlyn Schenck, Cheryse Mitton, Jaimie Phelan) – 4×400-metre relay

The third best time going in so watch out.

SENIOR BOYS

Devon Rittinger (Forest Heights) – 100 metres, 110-metre hurdles

Will have to improve on 10.95 second time to medal in 100. A hurdles medal is more likely.

Calvin Arsenault (St. Mary’s) – 110-metre hurdles; 400-metre hurdles

A dominant hurdler who is capable of winning two golds.

Mitch O’Donnell (Forest Heights) – 100 metres, long jump

The favourite in the long jump will be put to the test by solid field.

Nienkel Paljola (Forest Heights) – 400 metres

Scott Buttinger (Resurrection) – 800 metres

It’s crowded at the top with a number of runners – Buttinger included – capable of cracking the top 5.

Sam Baxter (St. Mary’s) – 1,500 metres, 3,000 metres

A medal threat over 3,000 metres

Emil Larsson (Sir John A. Macdonald) – pole vault

The top-ranked vaulter going in thanks to OFSAA West jump of 4.15 metres

Forest Heights (Barney Inthavonky, Mitch O’Donnell, Nienkel Paljola, Devon Rittinger) – 4×100-metre relay

The lads are capable of winning a medal.

OPEN BOYS

Has a shot at top-three finish if he can retain his OFSAA West form.

Learning House