By Jennifer Quam

The McBride Centennial Elementary school track team comprising of 38 students from grades four to seven did very well in a meet held in Prince George last week.

“As a whole the kids performed excellent,” said coach Judy Shawara. “Especially considering they only had two weeks of practice.”

Shawara praised the group as a whole saying they all tried really hard in each event and all the kids seemed to be beaming the whole day in conditions she called perfect for track. “It was overcast and never rained until we got on the bus.”

The team was accompanied to Prince George by coaches Shawara and Melvin Taphorn, school sponsor Marlene Walchuk and volunteers Janice Mercuri, Marion Cousineau, Allison Kraby, Sharon Mortensen, Kia Johnsen, Rosie Esser, and Carrie Krenzler.

Two students that really excelled at the meet on an individual level were grade seven boys Alex Mercuri and Kody Pepper.

Alex placed first in the long jump, the 400 meter run, and in the 100 meter dash with his time being under 13 seconds. He was also part of the Grade 7 boys relay team that finished second.

“My favourite part of track is the running,” said Alex. “I really like the 400 meter run because it is not too short but it is not a long distance run. You really have to think about how to pace yourself.”

This was Alex’s fifth appearance at the track meet in Prince George and he said his best showing ever.

“I really practiced hard this year at school and also I ran at home,” he said. “I am thinking about maybe trying to get involved with the Prince George Track and Field Club next year.”

Kody Pepper collected first place medals in both the shot put and the triple jump events, the only two events he was entered in.

“The best part of the day was the events,” said Kody who has participated in track for four years. “In the shot put my farthest throw was 8.74 meters and in the triple jump my best jump was 7.27 meters. The competition was pretty tough and I didn’t know if I was going to win until the very end because a lot of others kids jumped after me.”

In the relay events the results for McBride Centennial are as follows: Grade Four Boys – 8th, Grade Four Girls – 3rd, Grade Five Boys – 5th, Grade Five Girls – 5th, Grade Six Boys – 5th, Grade Six Girls – 2nd, Grade Seven Boys – 2nd, Grade Seven Girls – 5th.