Record breaking run

Hunter Campbell didn’t just beat the junior boys record in the 400-metre dash. He shattered it.

The Five Mile Public School 13-year-old easily outdistanced the field Tuesday to take the junior boy’s crown in a personal best time of 1:00:47, more than two seconds faster than Jordan McIntosh’s mark set a year ago at the Superior Secondary School Athletic Association’s annual elementary public school track meet.

“It felt really great. I’ve been training for a little bit, so I’m pretty proud of myself.”

Hunter was one of 1,510 students from Grade 4 to Grade 8 who took part in the multi-discipline event, held at Fort William Stadium.

Jo Jo Ertle, a Grade 6 student at Crestview Public School, fell short in her midget high jump record pursuit, but still outlasted all her competition with a 130-cemtimetre leap, one centimetre short of tying the existing record.

“I’m a gymnast and I thought I could get it. I was so close and I’m going to try to tie it,” she said.

While the track competition is a great way to get out of school for the day, Jo Jo said it certainly has its benefits.

“It gets your body moving, it gets you talking to your friends and you spend a whole day out of school getting active and having fun,” the 12-year-old said.

“It teaches you a lot of discipline and everything.”

SSSAA athletic director Dave Pineau said it’s easy to understand why the track and field event has remained so popular each year.
“I think it’s because it’s the culminating (athletic) activity. It offers lots of opportunities, whether you run, throw or jump. And it gives you a chance to be off school when it’s nice out, so I think there’s a lot of different elements,” Pineau said.

“But certainly it is our go-to event.”

Judging by the results, even though not many records were broken on Day 1 of the two-day event, there’s plenty of competition among the city’s youngest athletes.

“Every year there’s an athlete or two that stands out in our mind. But obviously with that kind of numbers, there are a lot of kids who are making lifelong memories.”

Pineau said the one new addition this year was the pee wee category, comprised of Grade 4 students. Previously they were grouped with the Grade 5 kids.

“It seemed like a natural thing. And I think it’s been well-received. I think the kids are enjoying it and I think it takes a little pressure off the younger kids to not have to compete with kids who are older than him.”

The track meet continues on Wednesday.