A Meadow Lake athlete experienced an all-time high recently, winning her second provincial gold of the year at this past weekend’s Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA) provincial track and field championships. “Carpenter High School sent 11 athletes to compete at the 2024 SHSAA provincial track and field championships June 7 and 8 at the Gordie Howe Track in Saskatoon,” explained CHS track and field coach Trent Marsh. “It was a great weekend for our school, and our athletes represented Meadow Lake well. Special shout out to Vivie Lavallee who won the gold medal in the Intermediate girls high jump. This is her second provincial championship this year, as she was a member of the girls basketball team that won provincial gold as well (at an abbreviated version of the annual Hoopla tournament March 23).”

Overall, CHS saw five of its athletes finish in the top 10 of their respective events. “And, many of our athletes were very close to the majority of the competitors in their events,” Marsh added. “Our school score of 72.5 points was good for 57th out of 204 schools. We were 10th place out of the 4A schools competing.” Marsh went on to note, as track and field is an individual sport, nerves can play a big part in performance and some athletes didn’t quite make the times or distances they had at the district competition. “However, this is invaluable experience and I am sure it will help our returning athletes when they compete again next year,” he said. “Meadow Lake is generally a ‘team sport’ town and we don’t really have a track and field club that trains outside of the very short high school season. For Vivie to win a gold medal in Intermediate girls high jump is a huge accomplishment. It is also the 14th medal won at provincials since Carpenter High School began participating in the SHSAA track and field championships. She is the 10th Spartan athlete to win a gold medal at a provincial championships in track and field.”

Marsh also acknowledged one of his fellow coaches from CHS. “Overall, it was a great weekend for our athletes and I look forward to seeing them strive to improve their performances for next season,” Marsh said. “Thanks to coach Rory Marr. She was the coach who travelled down with the athletes and did an amazing job organizing, supporting and giving tactical advice.”

CHS results are as follows: Brooke Hildebrand, Intermediate girls shot put, 10th place, 9.52 metres; Vivie Lavallee, Intermediate girls high jump, first place, 1.51 metres and Intermediate girls long jump, fourth place, 4.75 metres; Taylor Brander, Junior girls 100 metre, 22nd, 14.43 seconds and Junior girls long jump, 13th, 4.55 metres; Terra Pickett, Junior girls javelin, 24th, 21.89 metres, Adam Treptow, Intermediate boys 800 metre, 12th, 21.30 and Intermediate boys 3,000 metre, 18th, 11:18.98; Nathaniel Roger, Intermediate boys javelin, ninth place, 35.79 metres; Caleb Rodrigue, Junior boys tetrathlon, 11th place, 1,872 points; Kalem Klassen, Junior boys triple jump, 13th, 10.95 metres; Christian McCallum, Junior boys high jump, ninth place, 1.70 metres, Jace Derocher, Senior Boys 200 metre, 25th, 25.88 seconds; and Gideon Regnier, Senior boys 1,500 metre, injured.