Kicking off a busy season
Over 400 athletes to compete at Cape Breton-Victoria District championship
SYDNEY — The first of four Cape Breton School Sport Nova Scotia track and field championships will take place on Monday in Sydney.
The Cape Breton-Victoria District Track and Field Championships will be held at Archibald Field — commonly known as Atlantic Street Field — with more than 400 athletes and 17 schools represented.
The event, which begins at 9:30 a.m., will mark the first of two track and field championships on the island this week. The Inverness district championships will be held on Tuesday in Mabou.
“This event showcases the best athletes in track and field in the Cape Breton-Victoria region,” said Greg Myatt, comeet director for the event.
The top eight finishers in each event will advance to the Highland regional championships, which will take place May 24-25 at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex in Sydney.
Overall, 15 different events will be offered at the Monday event in sprints, jumps and throws.
“This is a good test for even the more experienced athletes as with the numbers there should be significant competition for them,” said Myatt. “This helps to fire them up for their practice sessions. The top athletes will be going after records, of course.”
PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Along with the two district events and the regional competition, the SSSNS will also host its provincial championships in Cape Breton May 31 and June 1, competitions which will be broadcast live on Eastlink Community Television.
The provincial championships will bring close to 1,100 participants from across the province to the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex.
“It promotes track and field to the young and exercise to our older folks,” said Myatt. “Hosting equipment improves from year to year and our throws facilities, too.”
Myatt said some of the athletes to keep a close eye on this year include Sydney natives Max Minihan and Anthony Phillips as well as Ella Barry.
Minihan medalled twice at the nationals in discus and hold the provincial record in his category. Phillips has been a competitive force in sprints and horizontal jumps and is a 2022 medal winner at provincials, while Barry has been very strong in sprints and jumps, winning provincial medals.