Broken records and medals in Queens

Behind her, the young South Queens Junior High School track and field team medaled in an unprecedented number of events while Chelsea’s future continues to gain momentum after breaking two of her own provincial records June 4-5 at the provincials in Dartmouth. Set last year, they were in shot put and discus.

High school Head Coach and teacher, Amanda Maynard said, “I’m new to track so she’s above and beyond my knowledge. She trains on her own and trains with a track club in the valley. She basically trains year round, takes it very seriously and could go very far with this.”

In addition, she said, “You honestly couldn’t ask for a nicer person; she’s a fabulous student and an all around great person.”

She also said Joel Smith threw a personal best to earn a bronze in javelin. She said he’s another student that is “willing to put extra time in. We’re very proud of them.”

South Queens Junior High School track and field Head Coach and teacher, Jeff Norman said the school started off by sending 23 athletes to the Districts, with 10 qualifying for the Regionals in 10 events, “which was really good.”

One had to drop out for personal reasons but eight ended up making the provincials with four hitting the podium.

Norman said the large number of students that represented the school bodes well for the future. He hopes the results will spur others to increase year-round training opportunities available in Bridgewater. “They were a great group of kids that were committed to training and wanted to win. There were three different meets and it was tiring so I was very proud. There are almost 900 kids at the provincials and to win - I don’t think the kids really know how great that it is.”

In separate interviews, Coach Norman and parent volunteer April Comeau praised each other. Norman said, “A lot of the thanks goes to Dan and April Comeau because they were pretty well here every day.”

April Comeau contacted this newspaper to specifically say Norman went beyond the cliché call of duty. “It was his first year as head coach and he just did a fabulous job. You don’t usually have that many go to the provincials and they all did extremely well.”

Norman added other teachers and volunteers were involved in the effort as well.

Maynard agreed the junior high results are promising. The teams train together. “It was great all around. Chelsea year after year has been bringing home medals to Queens Co but we’ve really expanded our medal count. It looks good for the future.”

The Queens County results are as follows. Unless noted in capital letters, the athletes are from South Queens Junior High School.

Junior Girls

GOLD - Long Jump, Jamie Kelley, 4.47m,

SILVER - Javelin, Chantal Killam, 27.41m

Emma Norman, 80m hurdles, 7th,

Junior High team - 4 X 100 Relay, 7th

Jamie Kelley, Alyssa Walsh, Candice Weagle, Emma Norman

Chantal Killam Shot Put, 14th

Sara Mitton, Triple Jump, 12th

Intermediate Girls

GOLD IN THREE EVENTS

Chelsea Whalen - LRHS

Shot Put, 12.98m

Discus, 34.47m

Javelin, 37.83m

Junior Boys

SILVER - Triple Jump, Jonah Comeau, 10.53m

Intermediate Boys

SILVER - Discus, Cameron McLennan, 36.64

BRONZE - Javelin, LRHS, Joel Smith, 45.48m

Senior Boys

Cameron Veinot, 100m, 8th, NORTH QUEENS

Isaac Norman, 100m, 13th, LRHS