HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-07-26, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012.SportsLondesborough track star prepares for nationals
Londesborough-area track and
field athlete Lexi Aitken is heading
for her second Legion National and
Youth Championships and this year
she’s hoping to return with some
hardware.
Aitken went to the national
championships last year in Ottawa,
but said it was more of a learning
experience than anything. She did
well, but not quite as well as she had
hoped.
This year she’s leaving for
Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island on Aug. 14 where she’ll run in
three events on Aug. 17, 18 and 19.
Aitken says she’s excited to make
the trip. Not only is she looking
forward to competing, but she’s
never been to Canada’s east coast
before, so she’s eagerly anticipating
the trip.
On Aug. 17 Aitken will participate
in the 80-metre hurdles, on Aug. 18
she’ll participate in the 200-metre
hurdles and on Aug. 19 she’ll
compete in the high jump. She says
she will likely participate in relay
events throughout the week as well,
which is often the custom for large
track and field meets.
Aitken participates in the Midget
division (which is for participants
under the age of 15), a division in
which Aitken holds a provincial
record, which earned her a ticket to
the national championships.
Earlier this month Aitken was in
Oshawa to participate in this year’s
provincial championships where she
finished with three gold medals,
setting a provincial record for the
200-metre hurdles.
“It was a good day,” Aitken said in
an interview with The Citizen.
During her recent string of
competition, Aitken has been
featured in photographs in the sports
sections of The London Free Press
and The Globe and Mail.
Aitken has only been serious
about track and field for the last few
years, after dominating competition
at her public school, Hullett Central
Public School.
It was in Grade 7, she said, that
she first began paying attention to
the skills she was developing, saying
that she simply “always won” many
of the school’s track and field events,
moving on to represent Hullett
Central at higher levels of
competition.
In Grade 8, however, she and her
parents Brad and Amanda, began
taking the sport seriously and Aitken
began training in London for future
competitions.
Aitken trained regularly through
the Legion with the help of Sandy
and Joe Ryder and her talent really
began to take off, she said.
Since starting at St. Anne’s
Catholic Secondary School, Aitken
has been working with Baird
Robinson, her coach at the school,
who has continued to work with
Aitken throughout the summer,
recognizing the potential she
possesses.
“He’s been working with her all
summer,” Amanda said. “He’s a
wonderful coach.”
Aitken is going into Grade 10 at
St. Anne’s this fall. While she hasn’t
thought too far ahead, she says she
hopes to stay competitive
with track and field as long as she
can.
“I want to do track and field in
university,” Aitken said. “I want to
see where it takes me and take it as
far as I can.”
In P.E.I., of course Aitken says she
hopes to win, but she has a few
personal goals she wants to achieve,
even if they don’t result in a medal
being placed around her neck.
“I’m hoping to win, hoping to set
some PBs (personal bests) and just
know I did the best I can,” she said.
“I just want to know that I left it all
out on the track.”
Aitken will be travelling in August
with Crystal Taylor, second vice-
president of the Blyth Legion, as
well as several members of her
family.
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
More gold than Mr. T
When Lexi Aitken returned from Oshawa and the Royal
Canadian Legion’s provincial track and field competition,
she was feeling a bit weighed down by the extra weight of
the gold medals that accompanied her (Shawn Loughlin photo)
U16 Girls take year-end silver
The Blyth U16 girls soccer
playoffs were played last week,
hosted by Goderich. The Blyth team
faced two tough opponents.
First Blyth faced off against
Brussels. The Brussels team was
short players, which gave Blyth the
advantage. Blyth took control of the
game and Melissa VanSchaik scored
five goals. Kathryn Chalmers also
got a shot on net to add to the score.
Leanne Plunkett held the net duties
allowing only two Brussels goals.
Blyth coasted to a 6-2 win.
The second game was against
league-leading St. Columban.
Always a hard-hitting team, St.
Columban pulled ahead with three
goals in the first half. Blyth was
turning things around at the start of
the second half when the game was
called off due to weather. St.
Columban was awarded the win by a
score of 3-0.
The Blyth girls made it to the
semi-finals with the top points for
the wildcard spot. They came up
against the Clinton I team. It was an
evenly-matched game with a lot of
play in the midfield. Plunkett was
sharp in net to keep Clinton off the
scoreboard. The game ended in
scoreless tie. The game was still
undecided after two tense five-
minute overtime periods with both
teams getting shots on net so it went
into a shootout. VanSchaik, Megan
Hoggart, Mackenzie Nesbitt,
Plunkett and Kathryn Chalmers all
hit the net to outscore Clinton and
give Blyth the win.
This advanced Blyth into the
finals against St. Columban.
Plunkett was very busy in the Blyth
net and made some excellent saves
to keep Blyth close. St. Columban
scored twice in the first half. Blyth
pressured St. Columban but couldn’t
find the net. St. Columban scored
once more in the second half to take
the win. Blyth finished with a silver
medal for the league.
Silver medal team members are:
goalie, Leanne Plunkett; defense,
Mackenzie Nesbitt; Ariya Vellenga,
Carlene Bremner, Mary Porter;
midfielders, Melissa VanSchaik,
Tina Verschaeve, MaKayla Nonkes;
forwards, Megan Hoggart, Holly
Howson, Brianna Yuill, Keyonia
Johnson, Leah Filiatrealt; U14
players, Kathryn Chalmers and
Chantal VanSchaik.
The Wingham Golf and Curling
Club enjoyed another busy week
despite the heat and very dry
conditions.
The Tuesday night ladies endured
extreme heat with the temperature
hitting over 40 with the humidity but
still had a great turnout for their
Italian fun night. The 25 girls played
a nine-hole happy face scramble
before joining in the dining lounge
for an Italian food buffet. Organizers
Jan Dauphin and Mary Houghton
did a superb job putting this event
together and all the gals shared many
laughs throughout the night.
On Wednesday, July 18 the senior
men had 22 hit the links. It was a
great to see Ed Huffman take home
first prize with Clayt Ruppel
finishing second and Steve Nixon
winning third. Longest putt winners
were Harry George and Bill
Johnston with Rolly Kaufman taking
closest to the pin. George, Nixon,
Don Bone and Wayne Gordon all
shot 38 to share low gross.
The Thursday night men played in
a light shower of rain most of the
night but still managed to have 48
golfers. Jay Marston fired a terrific
even par 35 for low score for the
night. The prize winners were
closest to the pin Gerry Edwards and
Barry Capling while the longest
putts went to Jason Goodall, Dan
McPherson, Ken Mathers and Gord
Fisher. Brian Carr and Bill Deans
picked up the hidden score awards.
Saturday the club was pleased to
host the wedding of Robin and Tyler
Donaldson. The happy couple were
married at the fourth tee blocks
before pictures and coming together
with friends and family for a beef
and chicken buffet in the dining
lounge. The wedding reception was
held on the curling room floor at the
club. Congratulations Robin and
Tyler.
OUT OF BOUNDS NEWS
The Wingham Golf and Curling
Club are now offering half-season
golf memberships. A great deal to
take advantage of. The club is also
offering half-price golf and cart
rentals for parents or adults with
children 14 and under after 3 p.m. on
Sundays.
Summer Sports Pages
Hullett M
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Back row, fro
m
left:Coach Wilma Ellis, Rodne
y Rozendal, Steven Ellis, Jamie Plaetzer,
Monica Bak
elaar, Gregory Roetcis
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er, Assista
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C
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a
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D
a
vid Salverda.Middle row:
K
y
l
e
Pollard, J
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n
e
tte Plaetzer, Jaso
n
Salverda, Tyler Berry, Jonathan Atkinso
n
.
Front row:
Courtney Middega
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,
K
e
l
s
e
y Falcone
r
.
Coaches and parents
~ we need your team's picture
and players' names
1. Please submit team
photo A.S.A.P.
2. Please include players'
and coaches' names
for under photo.
Please help us get ALL the summersports teams published.
The Citizen
413 Queen St., Blyth
519-523-4792
541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-887-9114
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Chip and a Putt – By Bruce Skinn