Vernon Track and Field Club will be having their first Track Practice of the Year on Monday April 4th, 6:00pm at the polson oval. Registration forms are now posted in the Registration tab. We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday April 4th, 2011. If you have any further questions please feel free to email Brent Helland at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The JU track & field team continues to build its roster for next year by signing distance runner Sarah Bailey (Vernon, British Columbia) for the 2011-12 season.

Bailey posted a personal best time of 2:15.09 as a junior at the Kajaks International Track Classic in Richmond, British Columbia. She also ran a personal best time of 4:45.33 in the Legion Canadian Youth Track and Field Championships (Ottawa, Ontario).

“We are excited for Sarah to join our cross country and track programs,” said JU head coach Ron Grigg. “She is an exceptional student who will study biology/pre-med and be a member of the honors program. We hope she will continue our recent successes in the middle-distance events.”

: Bailey is the second signee to join the Dolphins for next season after Sally Marie Futch (Statesboro, Ga., throws) committed to JU last month.

The current Dolphins will return to action on Saturday with the UCF Black & Gold Challenge in Orlando, Fla.

Vernon Track and Field Club will be having their first Track Practice of the Year on Monday April 4th, 6:00pm at the polson oval. Registration forms will be posted by March 15th. We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday April 4th, 2011. If you have any further questions please feel free to email Brent Helland at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

from l to r (Jim Hamilton, President Okanagan College; Jim Garlick, Mayor District of Coldstream; Herman Halvorsen, Chair Regional District North Okanagan; John Lent, Regional Dean Okanagan College.

The North Okanagan Regional District has entered into a 40-year lease with Okanagan College to use 10 acres at the Kalamalka campus for a running track, sports field and other activities. However, a number of obstacles must be overcome first, including going to referendum to borrow $7.8 million.

“We need to answer people’s concerns and talk to them about why this is a benefit,” said Jim Garlick, Coldstream mayor, adding that there is a need for residents to rally around the project.

“Go out and talk to your friends and neighbours and think about why this makes sense.”

The plan calls for an Olympic-size, rubberized running track; an artificial turf field for football, soccer, rugby and field lacrosse; facilities for high-jumping, pole-vault and discus-throwing; covered seating for 400 spectators; a 4,575-square-foot field house with change rooms; and a 1,948-square-foot building with washrooms and meeting space.

However, there is no timeline for a referendum or construction as Coldstream council must first submit an application to the Agricultural Land Commission to allow for a non-conforming use within the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Council is expected to discuss the matter as early as Monday, and Garlick supports the land being used for recreational activities.

“It’s part of the college, it’s not under irrigation and the potential for pure agriculture is limited,” he said, adding that it hasn’t been used for crops in decades.

“It would be too simplistic to say it’s agriculture and we have to leave it as agriculture.”

Concern among some residents about the loss of agricultural land played a role in a sports complex being shot down on Aberdeen Road in 2007. However, Garlick doesn’t expect the same debate about the current proposal.

“It’s a different location and facility. It’s smaller and it fits the community better,” he said, pointing out that it is some distance from homes and has highway access.

Garlick is also convinced the sports facility can act as a catalyst for growth at the college, including new programs and a demonstration farm.

“I want agriculture taught at the college,” he said.

There is the possibility that a referendum could be held in conjunction with civic elections in November 2011. Borrowing $7.8 million would work out to about $17 extra annually over 20 years for the average home in Greater Vernon.

Okanagan College officials believe the facility could benefit students by providing recreational and competitive opportunities.

“It’s also possible that we could look at running athletic development programs,” said president Jim Hamilton.

The prospect of an Olympic-sized track is good news for the Vernon Amateur Athletic Association.

“This will be a Mondo track and in the track world, that’s fast,” said Ian Cameron, with the Vernon Amateur Athletic Association.

The current track at Polson Park is not regulation size, and Cameron says the new facility could be used by youth, senior athletes, Special Olympics and recreational walkers, and it could host special events.

“The B.C. Summer Games would be a great thing for the community to hold,” he said.

The lack of a regulation-sized field has also been a challenge for the Vernon Minor Football Association.

“This is great for the youth of the community,” said Bill Tarr, with the association, of the proposal.

Other groups supporting the facility are the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre for off-season training, the Vernon Jubilee Hospital cardio program, the Kal Rats running club and the school district.

Wayne Lippert, Vernon mayor, says it’s important for football and track sports to move ahead.

“I support the facility but council has not talked about it. The college is a good site for the facility,” he said.

This Report is from The Vernon Morning Star!

Jared Sexsmith began the year with a 128-centimetre personal best high jump. After that, he just kept raising the bar.

The 12-year-old member of the Vernon AAA Track & Field Club was honored at the B.C. Junior Development Awards Banquet recently in Vancouver for clearing the 149-cm standard set by the committee. He was one of eight male athletes, and the lone high jumper, to receive an award.

Sexsmith, coached by Ian Cameron, finished no worse than second in high jump at any club meet he went in this year, and won gold at the B.C. Junior Development Championships in Kamloops in August, shattering his personal best by 14 cm.

Sexsmith was also honored earlier this fall at the Vernon club’s awards banquet, earning Most Improved Male Athlete and the Most Valuable Athlete (9-14 age group).

Vernon AAA Track Club athletes claimed 21 medals, including eight gold, at the 26th annual Jack Brow Track Meet last weekend at the Kelowna Apple Bowl.

Lydia Lavigne-Evely – competing in the Female 10 year olds division – won the 60-metre sprint in 9.86 seconds, topped the 100-m in 16.2 seconds and ruled the long jump at 3.18 metres. She also struck silver in the high jump at 1.15 metres.

Sarah Bailey was in the Women’s 16-17 class and took gold in the 800-m in two minutes and 18.52 seconds. She ran a personal best 4:46.9 in the 1,500-m. Bailey was fourth in the 400-m in 61.37.

Ella Brown ran a personal best 26.79 to take the 200-m race in Girls 14-15. Brown placed fourth in the 100-m in 13.26 and was fifth in the 300-m in 43.29.

Jared Sexsmith of the Boys 12 year old category uncovered gold in the high jump at 1.36 metres, while placing fourth in the triple jump at 8.83 metres.

Tessni Carruthers – competing in Women’s 16-17 – was first in the 3,000-m in a blistering 10:23.69, taking one second off her personal best.

Carruthers also claimed silver in the 1,500-m in 4:47.73, shaving seven seconds off her personal best.

Shawna Noble was in the Women’s 16-17 and garnered a silver medal in the 100-m hurdles in 18 seconds and bagged bronze in the 300-m hurdles in 49.62.

Christopher Watson ran in the Boys 14-15 category, pocketing silver in the 2000-m in 6:57.12, placing third in the 1200-m in 3:47.98 (PB). He was fifth in the 800- in 2:25:03 for another personal best.

Amelia Smart produced a pair of bronze medals in the Girls 11-12 division, recording a 5:48.84 in the 1,500-m and leaping 1.25 metres in the high jump. She was fifth in the 800-m in 2:51.59.

Claire Oordt-Bosman of the Girls 9-10 year olds group earned a silver in the 800-m in 2:57.05.

Corrinne Lavigne-Evely (Girls 12-13) posted a huge personal best by taking bronze in the high jump at 1.35 metres. She was eighth in the long jump at 3.55 metres and 10th in the 200-m in 37.09 and the 800-m in 2:48.45 (PB).

Nicholas Stanhope of the Boys 13 year old category earned bronze in the long jump at 4.48 metres and finished fourth in the high jump at 1.40 metres.

Pepijn Ramakers competed in Men’s 18 year olds and secured a bronze in the 800-m in 2:08.72, breaking his personal best by three seconds even though his shoes were untied for the entire race. He was fourth in the 400-m in 54.66 (PB).

Sasha Schoch, in the Women’s 16-17 group, collected a bronze in the 800-m.

Eleri Smart, in the 9 year olds class, placed fourth in the 60-m dash in 10.27 seconds and the 100-m in 17.18.

Liam Brown (Men’s 12-13) was fourth in the 1500-m in 5:24.96 (PB) and seventh in the 800-m in 2:36.47.

Bryan Carruthers (Boys 12-13) placed fourth in the 3,000-m in 11:40, and sixth in the 1,500-m in 5:38.30, both personal bests.

Taylor Dasilva (Girls 11-12) was eighth in the 200-m in 36.46 and 10th in the long jump at 2.52 metres (PB).

Taylor Ostrass (Girls 12-13) placed ninth in the 800-m in 2:47.83 setting a new personal best.

Sasha Schoch was a double-gold medalist at the 31st annual Pacific Invitational Track & Field Meet last weekend at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley.

Racing in the 16-17 women’s division, Schoch was first in both the 800- and 1,500-metre distance races, finishing in 2:16.13 seconds, and 4:45.44 respectively. Her 800-m result was a personal best.

Sarah Bailey claimed bronze in the same two events, finishing them in 2:17.61 and 4:52.04.

In 16-17 women’s hurdles, Shawna Noble finished sixth in the 100-m distance in 17.82, and third in the 300-m event in 49.89.

Mykenzee Ramunno cleared 4.71 metres to earn seventh in 16-17 women’s long jump, and was 12th in the triple jump with 9.51 metres.

In 14-15 girls action, Ella Brown struck gold in both the 100-m (13.32) and 300-m (44.50), and added a fourth-place finish in the 200-m (27.70).

Brown has qualified to compete at the B.C. Summer Games, July 22-25 in Langley.

Mariah Klein recorded ninth in the 13 girls 100-m preliminaries in 14.64, and was 12th in long jump, leaping 4.08 metres.

On the boys side, Chris Watson was fifth in the 14-15 boys 2,000-m (6:54.13), third in the 1,200m in (3:52.19), and 10th in the 800-m (2:26.09), setting personal bests in each event.

Watson will race in the 800-m at the B.C. Summer Games.

Liam Brown (13 boys) raced to a sixth-place finish (2:36.70) in the 800-m, earning a personal best. He added a fourth in the 3,000-m (11:40.27).

Jared Sexsmith (12 boys) was eighth in the 200-m in 32.43 seconds, second in high jump with 1.35-m, and 11th in long jump with 3.57-m.

Vernon AAA Track & Field Club coach Brent Helland accompanied the athletes to the event.

The club will be competing in Kelowna at the Jack Brow Track Meet, July 3-4.

The club holds open practices Mondays from 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon, at Polson Park.

Kelowna Jack Brow Track and Field Meet will be coming up July 3rd and 4th. Please click on the link provided to see the meet package http://kelownatrackandfield.com/pdfs/jb_technical_package_2010.pdf. The deadline to submit meet entries will be Saturday June 26th. If you have any questions please see your coach.

The Langley Meet will be held June 18,19,20

Please review the meet package that is attached for information about the meet. I will need everyones meet entry slips by June 9th at the latest. If you have any questions please ask your coach.

http://www.langleymustangs.com/2010%20Meet%20Package.pdf