Speedsters
Sprinters turn in stellar CWOSSA performances
CAMBRIDGE — One speedster is in the twilight of her high school career and the other is just scratching the surface.
Tomi Bamigbade of Cameron Heights and Dominique Nedd of Glenview Park both turned in stellar performances at the two-day Central Western Ontario (CWOSSA) track and field championship at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School. Both girls, along with the top five finishers in each event, will be looking for more of the same at next week’s OFSAA West meet in LaSalle.
Bamigbade, a Grade 12 student who will attend Missouri State University later this year on a full athletic scholarship, finished first in the senior girls’ 100 and 200-metre races and also took top spot in the 400m hurdles. She topped the senior girls individual standings with 30 points and is optimistic her strong form can continue for the next fortnight. The OFSAA championship is scheduled for June 7-9 in Toronto.
The powerfully built Bamigbade has one previous OFSAA medal to her a credit, thanks to a second-place performance two years ago in the junior 80m hurdles. She has had other close calls along the way and would like nothing more than to go out on top. “This (CWOSSA) is just the beginning, there’s OFSAA West and OFSAA coming up, but this was a great start for me,” said Bamigbade on Thursday afternoon. “OFSAA medals are possible, for sure, so that’s the hope.”
Outside of school, she trains with the Toronto-based Extreme Velocity track and field club and credits head coach Jamal Miller for helping her taking her game to the next level and securing the scholarship at Missouri State.
When she moves on from Cameron Heights next month, Bamigbade will do so with the knowledge that’s she been a huge part of the track and field program for the past four years.
“I’m really happy with my time at Cameron Heights,” she said. “My teammates, the coaches, they’ve all been very supportive.”
As for Nedd, a diminutive Grade 9 student with limited experience on the track, she exploded onto the scene at last week’s Waterloo County (WCSAA) meet and continued her fine form with a strong showing at CWOSSA. She clocked first-place finishes in the midget girls 100 and 200m races, finished second in the 400m race and participated on Glenview Park’s junior 4x100m relay team and 4x400m open relay team.
The personable youngster, who doesn’t belong to a track club, said she started the season with no idea what to expect and is surprising herself with each passing meet.
“I was hoping to do well obviously but I had no idea I’d get to CWOSSA and now make it to OFSAA West,” she said. “I knew I was OK at running but I haven’t really trained that much, just with our school team.”
Nedd, who was on the track team at Woodland Park Public School last year, plays soccer for Cambridge United outside of school and suggests that might have something to do with her explosive speed and stamina.
Sir John A. Macdonald topped the overall team standings, ahead of Cameron Heights and St. Mary’s. SJAM won the overall female division and St. Mary’s won the overall male division.
Many other Waterloo Region athletes were in fine form at CWOSSA, including Grade 10 standout Mylenne Habash of Père-René-de-Galinée, who was first in the junior girls triple jump and long jump and second in the 100m dash.
Owen Read of Elmira also continued his fine form, winning the senior boys 100 and 200m races to duplicate his WCSSAA sweep of the marquee events.
Emma Lemieux of KCI established a record in junior girls high jump with 1.72m effort. The previous mark of 1.71m was set in 1985 by Leanne Madill of Guelph Centennial.
Two athletes improved on the senior boys long jump record of 7.10m that was set in 2011 by Mitch O’Donnell of Forest Heights. Adam Lee of Guelph’s John F. Ross won the event with a 7.16m jump and Kenny Siharath of Cameron Heights finished second with a 7.11m effort.
On Wednesday, Tyra Boug of Huron Heights set a CWOSSA record in senior girls 100 metre hurdles. Her new mark of 14.15 seconds erased the previous mark of 14.20, set by Glenview Park’s Michelle Brydson in 1998.
St. David’s 4x100m relay team of Mackenzie Denomme, Mikayla Schnarr, Hannah Blair and Jordyn Waters also set a CWOSSA record by finishing in 49.35 seconds. The previous mark was set in 1984.
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TOP PERFORMERS
Here are the top individual performances from the CWOSSA track and field championship. Athletes earn 10 points for a first-place finish, eight for second and six for third.
Midget girls: Dominique Nedd, Glenview Park, 28; Jennifer Elizarov, Sir John A MacDonald, 28; Ella Stowe, Paris District 24.
Midget boys: Trent Frede, Waterloo CI, 20; Tennessee Tremain, Guelph CI, 20; Ryan Caughy, Sacred Heart, 20.
Junior girls: Mylenne Habash, Père-René-de-Galinée, 28; Alexandria Webb, St. Benedict, 28; Joanna Hui, Guelph Centenial CVI, 20; Haley Davis, John F. Ross, 20; Nicole Paine, Galt, 20.
Junior boys: Jeremy Elliott, Sacred Heart, 30; Richard Davis, Brantford Assumption, 24; Sam Myles, Peninsula Shores, 24.
Senior girls: Tomi Bamigbade, Cameron Heights, 30; Tamara Grahovac, Cameron Heights, 20; Tiana Lostracco, Guelph St. James, 20.
Senior boys: Adam Lee, JF Ross, 30; Owen Read, Elmira, 20; Marcus Kemp, St. Mary’s, 20.