Track Rule Changes Could Affect School Athletes

So, later this week in London, the Ontario track and field championships will take place for high schools - a time for athletes to strive for personal best times and distances in a variety of events. And, if there is perfect weather, there will be many great performances.

It's not the biggest high school track meet in Canada, but it does lend importance for more reasons than bragging about accomplishments in grade school. It`s another opportunity for youngsters to qualify for international events. But, despite their up-coming successes at OFSAA, many of the track achievements may not count for much at all.

This year, the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Junior championships are in Moncton, N.B., The best athletes in this age bracket from around the world will come to Canada. And, it makes sense that the best Canadians compete.

But, a communication mix-up could prevent that from happening. I am not pointing the finger at anyone other than to say the IAAF has made changes to rules. Athletics Canada and Athletics Ontario accept the changes. OFSAA, the school association, likely does too - but hasn`t incorporated the changes quickly enough to affect the high school finals in a few days.

In short, that means problems.

Here`s what it says on the Athletics Ontario website.

``...our members were advised that Athletics Canada and the IAAF will not accept performances in which IAAF rules are not followed, including the newly-adopted no false start rule. The OFSAA organization, has, this year, decided to apply the old start rule in which the entire field is charged with the first false start in any race. What that means, with the exception noted below, is that no track event performances from any high school meet held this year in Ontario will be recognized by Athletics Canada for any purpose.``

Some good news, and that`s what is meant by exception, is that un-named Athletics Canada and OFSAA people apparently pulled a late deal that allows for athletes in senior track events to get special treatment. Confusing? It is to some. Unfair? It is to some. I can just imagine how junior and midget-age athletes feel about this? Not even mentioning the vibes from coaches and parents.

I have also learned that all times at Ottawa meets, and there were six, have also been approved.

Athletes like Aaron Brown, from Birchmount Park, are alright. He's the speedster, and a senior, who set outdoor standards last year. He's also run 100 metres in 10.36 seconds - faster than the existing Canadian Interscholastic times set by former high schoolers Desai Williams, Carlton Chambers and Hugh Spooner. All three were Canadian Olympians.

OFSAA is not run by IAAF rules. OFSAA does provide an opportunity for students to participate. It doesn't have an obligation to provincial, national or international associations. That said, any track athlete, other than seniors, won't have their times count by the national track and field group according to Athletics Ontario President Bill Stephens. And Athletics Canada, again according to Stephens (who has coached many great athletes like Brown), will not recognize records or times - for getting on National teams - based on the OFSAA meet.

Athletics Canada and Athletics Ontario can not expect a school association to make immediate changes to meet their standards. OFSAA does look like the bad guy on this, but isn't. Dig deeper and no one really loses, as athletes - many who compete on club teams - can still meet the standards with those club meets. But time is running out. It just won't happen at the so-called big Ontario high school event.

Some athletes are faced with a decision: what's more important - compete at OFSAA or try make the Canadian team for the world championship?

Back to communication. It would be nice if people did just that more efficiently so that student athletes benefit. That would be a record in itself.

 

MMA in high schools?

So, the Ultimate Fighting Championship folks have come to Toronto, set up an office and now will look to get this sport legalized in Ontario.

 

Defined by some people as a sport that is combative, others refer to it as mixed martial arts, once Premier Dalton McGuinty and his team start feeling the pressure from those who enjoy watching individuals get violent with other people, the government just may kick in.

 

Why? Money.

 

UFC could also bring lots of loonies (and I did mean a reference to money) to Queen's Park and there will be lots of marketing people trying to sell the critics that the sport is good for the economy.

 

So, why am I raising this - other than an opinion. It won't be long before someone figures this might make an interesting high school sport. Popularity is there. The sport is growing. Students are looking for ways to release aggression.

 

Some people might think I may be suffering the after effects of heat exhaustion in the past 24 hours, not so.

 

MMA is not as bad as it appears, some will say. Others are dead set against it. Some people have already told me that rules can be modified to accommodate high schools, colleges and universities.

 

Wait a minute. The striking and grappling we see in UFC can be severe - as if we don't have enough concerns with young people getting hurt in football and hockey (with equipment) or wrestling and rugby (without equipment). I know youngsters take judo, Tae kwondo and karate classes, but it just isn't the same as telling mom and dad that you've just joined the mixed martial arts team at your school.

 

At the Toronto District School Board girls' soccer championship on Tuesday, I actually heard athletes talking about how great a career it would be in MMA. I don't think they were referring to an MBA, the masters degree, but maybe.

 

I can remember the fuss when, several years ago, the word got out that a Toronto Catholic high school had converted a room in to a boxing ring. I was told it was a boxing club, just like any other sports club and people told me that boxing helps balance, speed, strength and endurance. I can see boxing endorsed in military schools and I believe in some U.S. schools, too, but it brings me right back to MMA.

 

As if we don't have enough people waiting to sue for anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten High School Athletes In The Spotlight

Holiday weekend is over, bit of a breather for many athletes.

But adrenalin levels are up a notch or more for others, who face elimination in the next week if their teams lose or they end up short of qualifying in a variety of sports - including the final few track and field regional meets - the Central Regionals at York University and the South Regionals in St. Catharines.

Reviewing the performances of school athletes the past week, here are my selections for 10 of the better ones - and, yes, we are heavy on the track and field side with numerous finals and great individual efforts.

 

Andre Azonwanna-Ford, McGuigan. He's the 14-year-old who has people turning their heads fast to watch him run. He was a triple event winner in the midget category at the Metro Regionals track and field finals. Yes, he did win the 100 metres in 10.75. No error in that time. Also, first in the 200 and 400 metres.

 

T.J. Boucher, Uxbridge. Get this, he loaned a bike to another competitor at the Durham Region mountain bike finals - and the gesture almost backfired. Boucher still won the senior 15 kilometres race - but, it was by one second over the athlete with his other bike.

 

Aaron Brown, Birchmount Park. Can't go wrong with this sprinter. First in two senior individual events and helped two relay teams to victory, too. His time in the senior 100 metres (10.38) at the Metro Regionals was quicker than three former Olympians when they were high schoolers. In the fall, Brown is going to the University of Southern California.

 

Luke Durward, Port Perry. Three gold medals in field events at the Durham Region finals, one of them was in the pole vault with 3.80 metres. First also in the discus (40.93) and shot (12.93).

 

Sarah Edney, Mount Carmel. Yes, she was a Toronto Star all-star hockey player and superb on defence. This time, great on the track. She won the 400 metres and 400-metre hurdles at the Peel Region finals, but has to miss the South qualifiers because she's accepted an invitation to a special Team Canada hockey camp in Calgary.

 

Crystal Emmanuel, Vaughan Road. The fastest female in Canada for her age and, because of some miscommunication between coaches and organizers, she almost didn't get a chance to compete in the Metro Regionals. When things worked out in her favour, this 18-year-old easily won the senior 100 metres (11.80) and 200 metres (24.52).

 

John Krzyszkowski, Port Credit. He only won one event this week, but his throw in the javelin obliterated the previous record. He won the event by 12 metres at the Peel Region finals. A provincial midget javelin champ last year, should be junior gold medallist this year. He won the javelin and discus last week.

 

Alistair Moona, Erindale. He has the physical stature and speed to cause lots of attention and will likely be in Florida in the fall on a track scholarship. For now, he's focussed on winning Ontario gold medals. Moona set a Peel record in the 400 metres, finishing in 48.85, and he's won two previous provincial high school gold medals in this distance.

 

Chanice Taylor-Chase, Notre Dame. I have a feeling she could be a future Canadian Olympian. I have been watching her run since Grade 9 and she's getting quicker every year. At the Durham Region track finals, she won the senior 100 metre hurdles (13.88), 200 metres (25.08) and long jump (5.45 metres). Believe me, she can do better.

 

Alix Tier, Cawthra Park. When she was in middle school, she won a cash award from the Canadian Nuclear Society for a dual purpose bioreactor. Now, she's winning gold - as in medals. Finished first at the Peel Region track finals in the 800 (2.23.05), 1,500 (4.51.72) and 3,000 (10.37.40)

 

Mercy Mercy Me.

I think it may be time to dig into the music archives and find the album again - the one titled "What's Going On?" and the song by Marvin Gaye called "Mercy Mercy Me".

Then, the song should be played to some coaches, teachers, students, administrators and others who don't seem to understand when enough is enough. I have touched on this before, and received lots of support, but it appears as if a re-enforcement of the message may be necessary.

What happened to sportsmanship at the school level? Don't coaches know how to control a game, especially when one team is far more superior, and things can get ugly when another team is whipped?

Yes, I know some leagues and schools have a variation of the Mercy Rule, a rule that allows a lopsided game to come to an end - and fast.

I still can't figure out why the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association introduced a weird rule in rugby limiting a point differential reporting score to be misrepresented by a maximum of 50, when in fact scores are much worse. Stop the game, if that's the only way, after it becomes apparent that another school team is about to get its pants kicked.

In the past 24 hours, listen to these scores from games in the Greater Toronto Area and, I am told, there are more like this. But, coaches haven't even submitted them to their leagues. Wonder if they forgot or just might have flushed faces.

What do you think of these recent games?

• Fourteen tries by Upper Canada players in a 92-0 shellacking of Hillfield/Strathallan in a junior boys' private school rugby game.
• Loretto College defeated Marrocco/Merton 21-0 in a varsity girls softball game in the Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association league.
• Stephen Lewis, the school and not the politician, whipped John Fraser 25-0 in a Peel Region varsity boys' baseball game.
• St. Marguerite d'Youville apparently saw nothing wrong in a 16-1 win over Cardinal Leger - and this was a junior boys' soccer game in Peel Region.

Time to get serious. As bad as the optics are for the team winning, and things do come around, the problem is with athletic associations that are allowing this to happen when action should be taken - be it fines or even suspending a school team for a period of time to get the message understood.

The reality: nothing will get done. It's too close to the end of the season and the year-end banquets and parties. For students, memories do linger over those outrageous scores coming in a learning environment.

Tough Picking Athletes of the Week

This was one tough week to pick 10 student athletes for my list. Start with regional track and field finals, then toss in league playoffs in various sports and how about superb individual performances in regular season games. Yikes. Could easily have had 25. To those on the list, congratulations. To the rest, keep up the great work. Now, to the athletes - and listed alphabetically rather than by achievements.

Shemar Anglin, Bill Crothers. Impressive young man. Watch him run, and he fits the description. Listen to him talk, very articulate and caring. On the track, quick. At the York Region track and field finals, first place in the junior boys' 100 metres (11.51), also in the 400 metres (44.96) and helped the 4x100-metre relay team to victory (52.01). Also, very considerate of his teammates and appreciative of his coach.

Andre Ford-Azonwanna, Cardinal McGuigan. You have read in the Star about how fast this 14-year-old can run. Electronically timed in 10.89 seconds over 100 metres a few weeks ago, he won the same event at the TDCAA finals in 11.44 but hampered by cold, wind and puddles on the track. First also in the 400 metres (51.78), a league record, and the 200 metres at 22.55.

Adelaide Burgess, Parkdale. Alright, so I admit bias in support of my alma mater. But, hold on. After five defeats in soccer, the girls' game, the Panthers finally broke the goose-egg. Yes, she scored the goal in a 1-0 win over Monarch Park in their Toronto District School Board game. In case you ask, Monarch Park had a 4-1 record before the game.

Brittany Crew, Birchmount Park. Three events and three first-place finishes in the shot, javelin and discus for this Grade 10 athlete at the Toronto District School Board East Region track and field final. Some background information: she's also got a 93 per cent average, is a member of the elite athlete program and is part of the school anti-bullying team.

Ryan Forletta, King City. He's a pitcher on the Lions varsity boys' baseball team. Plays for a rep team too. But, sticking to high school, he could be a factor in this perennial favorite winning the York Region title again. His pitching beat Westmount, then 13-0 over Mulock - where his bat also helped with a grand slam.

Jordan Hill, Sinclair. I am told that he might be the among best right-handed throwing pitchers in GTA high school baseball. With a 4-0 record, his latest wins were 5-1 over St. Mary (Pickering), 8-0 over Pickering and 13-0 over Northern (Toronto). He has verbally committed to Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas

Laura Kosiba, Father Redmond. How about a junior-age athlete winning the steeplechase, a 1,500-metre race that tends to attract the older runners? She won this race in five minutes, 50.77 seconds at the Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association finals. She also won the 3,000 metres and 300-metre hurdles. Now, off to the Metro Regionals.

John Krzyszkowski, Port Credit. His school coach said a guy like this comes along "once every 10 or 20 years". He may be right. Trying to give his school some attention, the Grade 10 athlete did just that. Record throws in the discus (56.86 metres) and shot put (16.64) at the Peel  track and field finals. He's aiming for one more - the javelin - this week.

Dylan Mundy, Uxbridge. The Tigers might have the best high school boys' rugby team in Ontario - and he's on it. He was a member of the Rugby Canada National mens under-17 team that played games in Wales. He once attended Sutton High, and was a hurdler and member of the track team. For Uxbridge, four tries in a 53-0 rugby win over Pine Ridge.

Natasha Tyzler, St. Joseph/Wellesley. She's been on this list before and also one of our former female athletes of the week. In softball, she just keeps getting better. Since last week, add three more home runs and two grand slams in TDCAA league wins over Dante Alighieri (19-8) and Marrocco/Merton (20-0)

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.

Sportsmanship - and the Right Score, Please

Sometimes I really wonder what really does go through the mind of people who coach the high school game.

Coaches tell me they are worried about the esteem of players who may be offended by seeing their teams get routed in a game. They’re also concerned about the optics of seeing a high school result, shall I say a blowout, not looking good for the image of the team or the school.

Maybe that should be running through their mind as they watch players dominate and pile up points?

Schools still allow for lopsided scores, post it on their own school and athletic association websites, but there is this also a hush about telling anyone else.

Here are some scores that I really do wonder about and how, when education and sportsmanship are so important and repeatedly communicated to every school by athletic associations, coaches still allow the final results to be, I think, just a bit too much.

In rugby, Senator O'Connor beats St. Basil 61-3 in a senior boys' game in the Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association TDCAA  league. Some will debate that this score is acceptable. How about Forest Hill crushing York Mills 104-0 in one of the most lopsided scores in Toronto in years? If you don't believe the score, check the Toronto District School Board website.

In Peel, a fair chunk of scores have stopped at 50-0 – like Streetsville over Stephen Lewis. But that wasn’t the score on the field.

I find it interesting that the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association now has a Fifty Point Rule. It’s in their playing regulations on rugby, one line under Section 7H. I am told that coaches wanted the rule but scores, regardless of a Tier system in place, still allow teams to beat others by more than 50 points.

What the Peel rule means is that once a score gets out of hand, it will still get recorded as a 50-point win. So, doesn't matter if a girls' or boy's rugby team beats another school by a ridiculous score - it's officially noted as a maximum 50-point margin. I assume this is a version of the Mercy Rule.

My thoughts on this are straightforward. I would prefer that coaches become creative and find a way of keeping the scores more reasonable and make the school game more educational. I am not so sure I like reporting a game score that is not really the one that happened on the field.

Performances Worth Highlighting - Again

I do listen.

Several people suggested that I hold off picking my top 10 athletes of the week until the weekend ends allowing for tournaments and last minute information coming in from schools. Alright, let's see what happens.

So, here we go. No need for trumphets or firecrackers. The 10 for this week made plenty of noise with their display of excellence in sport. People keep writing and asking why I don't list them in numerical order instead of the alphabet approach?

I did say that I listen. Some times the ideas are good. This one, not so. In response, it's very difficult in high school sports - and with a variety too - to list them 1 to 10 without offending someone.

Fraser Aird, Campbell. Soccer is his game and, from what I have been told, this youngster can play the game. He's been on a provincial team and now he's scoring goals for his Toronto high school junior boys' team. He had five goals in a 7-2 win over Lester B. Pearson

Fabienne Chan, Richmond Hill, She's now a provincial gold medalist in badminton - and accomplished it in her first appearance at the Ontario high school playoffs. She had lost a few days earlier in the Canadian under-19 Singles playoffs and - with an injured hand - was unbeatable and swept the Ontario final.

Valaine Confesor, Cardinal Newman. A two-time junior athlete of the year at her school, she's a four-sport athlete. She scored the winning goal in a 5-1 soccer victory over St. Joseph's, but also claimed the gold medal in the table tennis finals.

 

Conor McCann, Malvern. I saw him play in a Toronto rugby game and was impressed at how he took control with his talent, power and physical strength. Four tries and five converts in a 52-7 senior boys' win over Riverdale. He's also on Canada's under-17 rugby squad.

 

Connor Panas, Etobicoke. Great pitching performance in an 11-5 win over Weston. He helped out with the bat too - a home run - in that Toronto District School Board league game. Baseball runs in the family. His older brother Ryan was a Toronto Star MVP and former OUA rookie of the year playing at Wilfrid Laurier.

 

Kayla Picanco, Loretto. Yes, second week on this big list. She has to be the top soccer scorer in the Toronto high school game. In her last three games, try 18 goals. That includes five in a 7-3 poounding of Don Bosco in their Toronto District Colleges Athletic Association varsity game.

 

Victoria Powers, Denis O'Connor. Rarely hear much from this Ajax-area high school, but this lacrosse player is creating attention. Six goals in a 10-2 Durham Region win over Paul Dwyer. She had six more, same day, in a 13-10 loss to Holy Trinity.

 

Alex Schweinberger, Huron Heights. For one of those rare times, I'm at a loss for words. Don't know much about this young man, other than he's a rugby player and can kick. He converted all seven tries in a decisive 49-0 win over Markville in a York Region junior game.

 

Daisuke Suzuki, Forest Hill. He has the same name as the Japanese songwriter and actor, but our guy is a former high school athlete of the year. Played four sports for the Falcons. Now, it's baseball - and he's a pitcher with wins over Oakwood (8-1) and Harbord (9-0)

 

Natasha Tyzler, St. Joseph's/Wellesley. Opposing softball teams keep pitching to the '09 team MVP and she keeps hitting - home runs. She had three home runs and 12 RBI in her last two games. Big hit was a grand slam in a 22-13 victory over Community Hebrew.

Those Were The Days

They say times keep changing – but many people believe it’s not always for the better. In some cases, I agree.

I sure wish high schools were as gung-ho about sports as in the past.

Back in the ‘80s, coaches did everything they could to bug me about their schools, athletes and teams.

They took their lumps – win, lose or tie.

I remember when people - like football coach Clarke Pulford at Northern, basketball coach John Petrushchak at Runnymede, track coach Bruce Smith at Central Tech, hockey coach Gary Jobe at Monarch Park, baseball coach Mike Thorpe at Brampton Centennial - and the list goes on and on - would pick up a phone and have a conversation with me about anything in high school sports.

We didn’t always agree, but still spoke.

We spoke about whether it's right to pay coaches, kids attempting to cheat and the consequences, coaches letting students play sports even though grades were border-line and on and on.

Even Chinguacousy wrestling coach George Apostolou wouldn’t hide when I wrote about him tossing a kid against the side of a bus for being mischievous. Yup, he got in trouble. Jack Leitch had some words with me when I asked what game officials did with their earnings – but we still continued talking and are friends. Ian LeMarquand, a Principal, didn't like when I wrote about a hockey team booted out of his Father Goetz tournament because some players spent the afternoon drinking alcohol. But, Ian knew I had a job to do.

People had opinions – and they still do. That’s fair. But they did what they could to get media attention for their students - and took their lumps too.

Things appear to have changed. There are some great coaches out there. Some think they’re that close to the pros. From what I see, some, well, just filling time, too. Lots of folks are sensitive and fidgety. Many are worried about political correctness, not sure whether to tell people that their team lost a high school game. They’re concerned about saying the right thing, liability and what happens if a student is injured while a teacher is coaching.

Event planning is not the same. I remember the days of the Red Feather football game and the huge attraction. Now, at the Rogers Centre, the numbers are disappointing for a football or baseball final. And those all-star basketball games at Jarvis Collegiate put on by Marv Pearl, an icon, along with the Michigan vs Toronto games. Now, they don’t exist.

People don't like to hear about conflicts - just the scores of games and even then only if they look good and not lopsided. I start wondering about education and sport – and is it just a bunch of words.

I am not sure what the future is for high school sports in this province. Seems like each year more and more kids are hooked on electronic toys, part time jobs and boosting grades. Obesity is still a problem. People who want to run intramural sports, like the old days, are running in to resistance from colleagues who are pushing varsity sports. Coaches, well, many of the good ones are retiring too.

Maybe it's time to mandate cheerleading teams at all schools.

High School Notebook

So, I went out to watch a high school boys' rugby game, not because I had a pile of time to waste, but it was a nice day and I wanted to watch a good game and try change my record of seeing anything but a kid helped off the field with some kind of nasty injury.

I was impressed with flyhalf Conor McCann, a member of the traditionally strong Malvern Collegiate program and a key player on Canada's under-17 team. He scored four tries (could have had more) and kicked five converts in a 52-7 win over Riverdale. The Black Knights are two-time defending Toronto District School Board champs and head coach Doug Underwood is one of the better coaches in this city.

As for injuries, one Malvern player left with his shoulder wrapped in so many ways that I was aching just watching him. A Riverdale player also had a bloody nose - just gushing too. I am told that the Toronto EMS know Brichmount Stadium in Scarborough very well, showing up to frequently help female rugby players  with head injuries and broken ankles.

Having enough rugby, I went back to the office to listen to a pile of calls from people all bragging about their athletes being the best in what they do - and all the time. Throughout all this, I tried to clean up my desk and see what was around that might be of interest to you.

 Andre Ford-Azonwanne, a grade 9 sprinter from Cardinal McGuigan is putting up some impressive numbers and setting meet records. How about 10.89 in the 100 metres? Yes, faster than any junior or senior-age athlete at the Cardinal Carter Classic.

Sticking to the track, Eric Dillon is leaving the country. I mean, he's accepted a full scholarship to the University of Missouri. It will be quite a difference from his hometown of Oshawa and running at McLaughlin Collegiate. Dillon had the fastest time over 1,500 metres in Canada for his age group last year and finished 11th at the World Youth track and field finals in Italy.

In lacrosse, how about Victoria Powers from Denis O'Connor High in Ajax? Win or lose, she can score goals. She had six in a Durham Region league win - 10-2 over Paul Dwyer. After a breather, she scored six more but Holy Trinity beat her team 13-10.

One more thing about rugby, our Halton Region correspondents tell me that teams called a halt to a girls' game at halftime. Oakville Trafalgar was winning, 57-0 over Burlington Central - a team that started with 15 players but left with less on the field because of injuries and having to forfeit.