Record books Terrell Webb of St. Benedict high school had a big day at District 8 track and field
Wins senior boys’ javelin competition with nice 54.88-metre throw
CAMBRIDGE — In the morning, he was all business.
In the afternoon, he kicked back and enjoyed his surroundings.
Terrell Webb of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School posted a record-breaking performance Wednesday at the Waterloo County/District 8 track and field championship, winning the District 8 senior boys’ javelin competition with a 54.88-metre throw. A few hours later, he was having fun while finishing third in the senior discus, an event he hadn’t prepared for and didn’t have a realistic chance of winning.
“This morning, that meant so much to me to come back from what I went through last year,” he said. “There’s a reason for everything, I never gave up and I’m thankful to have my mom (Vicki Webb) as a coach and I’m thankful to have all the other people that have helped me get this far.”
The combination of rigorous training and a growth spurt resulted in a back injury last year that hampered Webb throughout the high school and summer seasons. Now fully recovered, the Grade 12 student hopes to continues his winning ways at next week’s Central Western Ontario (CWOSSA) championship and beyond.
Webb, who shot up to six-footfour last year, was one of several athletes from Waterloo Region to turn in record-breaking performances on the opening day of the two-day competition at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School. The top four finishers from WCSSAA events and the top two from District 8 will advance to CWOSSA.
Nicole Paine of Galt Collegiate added her name to the WCSSAA record books by winning the junior girls long jump competition with a 5.27-metre effort. The former mark of 5.02 metres was set in 2006 by Nicole Roeder of Waterloo Collegiate.
Tamara Grahovoc of Cameron Heights, who will attend Central Michigan University later this year, won the WCSSAA senior girls triple jump with an 11.47metre hop, step and jump. The previous mark of 11.12 metres was set by Danielle Gunsch of Huron Heights in 2012.
David Peet of Forest Heights topped the field in the WCSSAA senior boys discus competition with a record 49.35-metre toss. The old mark of 47.30 metres was set by James Burns of Bluevale in 2013.
Mylenne Habas of Père-Renéde-Galinée won the District 8 junior girls long jump with a 5.40-metre effort and erased the previous mark of 5.06 metres set last year by Nicole Hellinga of Woodland.
Xavier Isaacs of St. Benedict beat his own mark in the District 8 100-metre dash (intellectual), crossing the line in 13.69 seconds.
Webb is attempting to become the third person in his immediate family to win an all-Ontario (OFSAA) high school championship in javelin. His mother achieved the feat in 1998 while attending Galt Collegiate and his younger sister Alex, who also attends St. Benedict, did the same last year in the midget division.
Alex, who will compete in the D8 junior javelin event Thursday, was in full support mode as she watched her brother add his name to the record books.
“The throw was amazing, I’m so proud of him,” she said.
“He has the potential to do even better.”
Big brother appreciates the support. “We have our moments but it’s all love, all the time with her,” he said.
In the final event of the day, Elmira’s Owen Read edged Josh Gilpin of Jacob Hespeler by 1/1,000th of a second to earn the title as Waterloo Region’s fastest high schooler. Both racers finished the WCSSAA senior boys’ race in 11.11 seconds and waited for more than a minute for the official results to be posted.
Tomi Bamigbade of Cameron Heights won the WCSSAA senior girls’ 100-metre dash in 12.49 seconds and is the fastest female competitor.
Full results are available at galasso.ca.