Shelaine Pritchard claimed gold in the U16 pentathlon as well as silver in the sprint relay at the Track & Field nationals. (submitted photo)

By paNOW Staff

hardware for P.A. athletes

P.A. athletes medal at National Track and Field Championships

Aug 12, 2019 | 12:41 PM

Two members of the Prince Albert Athletics Club medalled at the 2019 Legion National Track and Field Championships in Sydney, Nova Scotia over the weekend. The two girls were part of Team Saskatchewan.

Shelaine Pritchard won gold in the under-16 pentathlon event, totalling 3,150 points and breaking new ground for an athlete from this province. She also won a silver medal in the under-16 girls 4×100 metre relay.

The pentathlon is 5 events: 80m hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put and 800m.

Throws and jumps coach for the P.A. Athletics Club Rick Ronning said Pritchard was a remarkable athlete ranking first in Saskatchewan indoors in 100m, 200m, long jump, high jump and second in shot put. Outdoors she ranks first in Saskatchewan in 80m hurdles, 100m , high jump, and long jump.

“One thing that was a bit frightening for her was that she had never done the 800 metres before and in practice it wasn’t going so well,” Ronning told paNOW. “But she became the first Saskatchewan athlete to win the pentathlon, certainly in her age category.”

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Also on the podium was Emily Cole-Johnson who was part of the quartet which won the silver medal in the under-18 100-metre relay. Their time was 48.28 seconds.

Emily Cole-Johnson, left, with her 4X100 metre U18 teammates, who collected silver. (submitted photo)

According to the Legion’s website, the championships give young Canadians 17 and under a chance to compete against the best, develop confidence and better understand the diversity of other sports-minded youth across Canada.

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panews@jpbg.ca