Hill big local winner at track and field provincials

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

Christian Hill had an outstanding 2009 track and field season, turning in top results at both the district and regional levels and qualifying for provincials in four individual events.

The Aylesford resident and Pine Ridge student saved his best for the NSSAF provincial meet last weekend in Dartmouth.

Hill won the junior boys’ long jump, was second in the high jump, third in the 100-metre hurdles and placed fourth in the 100 metres, just barely (by .06 seconds) missing out on a fourth medal.

Hill’s performance highlighted a decent showing by athletes from the Kings-West Hants district at the provincial competition, held June 5 and 6 at Beazley Field.

Other competitors from our area with first place finishes (and provincial championships) included Hilary Rawding of West Kings, Andrew Jennings-Lindsay of Central Kings and Britany MacArthur of NKEC.

Rawding won the intermediate girls’ 800 metres, was second in the 1,500 and 3,000 and third in the 400 for a total of four medals.

Jennings-Lindsay won the intermediate boys’ shot put with a new provincial record throw of 13.59 metres. MacArthur won the senior girls’ 800 and was second in the 400.

Matt Allain of Pine Ridge was second in junior boys’ shot put, Jill Murphy of Kings-Edgehill was second in junior girls’ 100 and 200 metres, Kaissa VanMeekeren of Coldbrook was second in junior girls’ 100 metres and Eric Rand of NKEC was second in the intermediate pole vault.

Scott Duncan of Horton, the regional senior boys’ 100-metre champion, placed third at provincials. Connor Simmons of C.K. was third in the senior boys’ high jump. The Central Kings 4X400 relay team of Jacob Gee, Heath Ayling, Alex McCarthy and Mitch Best also finished third.

Fourth place finishes went to Mitch Best of C.K. in intermediate boys’ 400 metres and pole vault and Sadie Woodworth of Berwick in junior girls’ high jump.

Also turning in fourth place finishes were Heidi Stirling of Horton in senior girls’ 400 metres, Robyn McNeill of C.K. in senior girls’ 1,500, Mitch Getson of C.K. in intermediate boys’ javelin, the KES intermediate boys’ 4X400 relay team and Marissa Walter of C.K. in the senior girls’ 100 metres.

It was a disappointing performance for Walter, a three-time defending provincial champion in her age group and one of the pre-race favorites. Walter pulled up lame with a hamstring injury during the 100-metre final and did not compete in the 200.