More than 150 local students ran, leapt over hurdles and worked on their high jump at last Thursday’s Lakeland Sports Alberta Association’s West track and field wards tournament at Ecole Beausejour.
Students in Grades 5 to 9 were competing in more than a dozen different event categories like long jump and shot put for a chance to represent the Lac La Biche area at the district event at Ecole Beausejour this Thursday. Competitors from Dr. Swift, J.A. Williams, Ecole Plamondon and Ecole Beausejour participated in last week’s event, which organizers considered a success.
“This was our first year hosting wards and I think it went well. It seemed like the kids were having fun,” said Darcy Plamondon, an Ecole Beausejour teacher and main organizer of the event.
The competitors were being cheered on by their classmates at most of the events last week, including competitors in the 1,500-metre run. Dr. Swift student Wade Doucet landed in second spot in the race and said it was a hard run to do.
“It was pretty tough,” he said, as he tried to catch his breath after running.
Doucet was one of 24 students from Dr. Swift to make it into the top two spots in various categories, which the school’s track and field coach Wayne Mah says is pretty good considering a total of 27 students entered the competition and says it showed great sportsmanship.
“All of our team members were constantly cheering their teammates on, demonstrated strong sportsmanship and were very cooperative,” he said. The top two students in each category will get a chance to compete once again this Thursday at the LSAA track and field district event and will be joined by students from the Cold Lake and Bonnyville area.
