Busy, Busy Times in School Track and Field

What a week in high school track and field - as if the gusty winds, rain and cold wasn't enough to create havoc for student athletes.

Some really superb individual performances and some disappointments. Some teams dominated and others fizzled in pressure situations. Some surprises at the Toronto-area Public, Catholic and private school finals - all qualifiers for the Metro Regionals. This is when the cream of the crop shine in the big city, but organizers don't keep any records to compare performances of past. Bizarre.

Got around to thinking of the ole' days when I was fortunate to see many high schoolers live out dreams to compete for Canada internationally - and even at the Olympic Games. Fast forward and I would wager some of these kids today will be wearing Canadian red and white very soon.

Lots of pre-race attention the past few days for 14-year-old Andre Ford-Azonwanna, the grade 9 sprinter at Cardinal McGuigan High in Toronto, who covered the midget boys' 100 metres in 11.44 seconds at the TDCAA finals. He was disappointed with the time, but the weather was less than ideal - including puddles on the Etobicoke Centennial Stadium track. It also didn't help that several members of his track team and spectators chose to fight in the stands just before his race, which may have thrown him off a bit. Two weeks ago, Ford-Azonwanna ran the 100 metres in 10.89. Not bad at all.

Some people were quick to tell me about Brandon Bobb, also 14 years old and a student at Saint Charles Garnier in Whitby. They claim he ran the distance in 10.84 at the Paul Dwyer mini-meet in Oshawa. Maybe so, but it was hand-timed; Ford-Azonwanna was electronically timed.

Still, should be quite the race at the provincial finals.

Father Henry Carr, St. Michael's and Birchmount Park appear to have some teams stacked with talent. Carr coach Peter Miller does a great job and he should be happy with the 24 medals won by his team and three records at the TDCAA finals. I also enjoyed watching grade 10 star Akeel Lynch from St. Michael's, not sure if he's better at track or scoring touchdowns for his school team. Birchmount Park's athletes did very well at the Toronto District School Board East finals. There was U.S. College bound Aaron Brown and Merid Seleshi, but triple field event winner Brittany Crew was my pick.

York Region, Durham Region and Peel Region all have their meets, along with the Metros, before everyone scatters for the Victoria Day weekend.

I also wonder what lies ahead for sprinter Joel Odosa, from McGuigan, who got the heave-ho by organizers for being the aggressor in that fight mentioned above. He`s a great athlete and one of four on the midget boys' 400-metre relay team that could be the fastest in Ontario.

But, he didn`t run the relay in the TDCAA final. The team, with a sub, placed second and still advances. Here's the interesting part. Odosa can still be re-instated for the Metros. That decision rests with either the McGuigan school administration, the TDCAA - or both.

Stay tuned. When I know, so will you.

Comments

[Alex]

Fights always tend to happen because kids are arguing over something dumb. I find it interesting that these school principals and vice principals, and especially from schools in difficult areas of the city, never show up to show support but always have expectations that coaches have to be everywhere.

[David Grossman]

Had a telephone call on Monday from Paul Solarski, a teacher at Brebeuf College and also the President of the Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association. I like Paul because he's always up front and not like some others in his organization and around the province who only like to talk when there is good news.
Paul mentioned that the TDCAA had met in a "Conduct Court" to review what happened at the league track and field finals. The fight that disrupted the meet, and continued outside the stadium, is not something they like and had to take action.
Turns out that both Joel Odosa and Tevin McLeish were suspended from the TDCAA championship after the incident. Odosa was the only one to get a school suspension. McLeish tried to cool things but, for some reason, was turfed from the meet. Yes, bothar are students at Cardinal McGuigan High.
As well, the TDCAA and, apparently the school according to Solarski, agreed that Odosa would not compete this week in the Metros. Yes, he was eligible but turns out that sending a message about behaviour is more important than competing for a gold medal.

[Trevor]

Something fuzzy here. Someone please explain to me why the one kid gets booted out of the championship if he was trying to prevent things from escalating.

[Rolly]

Too much hype on that kid from McGuigan. Brandon Bobb will kick his butt at OFFSAA.

[Pepper]

What is with our educational school boards anyway. After reading this are you serious in saying that the kid in the fight still has a chance to race.
That kid Odosa should be barred because of the trouble he caused.
If that school is so hard up for a medal they should go to Walmart and buy one.
I agree with you about these school principals and vice principals. They need to do more than think they are important. Maybe if they showed up or provided enough staff at an event like this the problem wouldn't have happened.

[Supply Teacher]

I was a supply teacher at Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School and was very impressed with what I saw and heard from students about Peter Miller. It appears that he has made quite a name with the track and field team and the students really like him. It's nice to see you recognizing him for what he does with students.

[Big John]

I find it interesting that both students were suspended from the track meet and only one was suspended from school.