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)

 

Comments

[Stephenson]

I look forward to your list each week because it contains so much interesting information. I am sure you could pull together 25 names. It's just nice to see that you and your newspaper do so much for high school sports. Thanks and ignore the peanut gallery of people who like to complain about little things. They are small in numbers and intelligence.

[Larry Bauer]

It is certainly refreshing to see that some people out there care more about helping than winning. Reading the reference to the mountain biker from Uxbridge is nice. He wins in my book whether he came first in the race or not.