SSNS Track and Field Provincials Recap

The greatest honest truth you will hear every relay coach in the land proselytize to their relay team throughout the season is: we don’t need the four fastest 100m sprinters to win the 4x100m relay. Team Canada proved it last year in Paris, winning Olympic gold without any of the individual fastest 100m runners. And last weekend at the SSNS Provincial Track and Field Championships in Bridgetown, five hyped-up Highlanders proved it again.

KES Athlete of the Year Carter Cooling ‘25 got us started with a clean first leg, passing the baton smoothly to Manny Adaramodu ‘26. Manny galloped past the competition, stride by ever longer stride, to deliver the best transition this duo has ever executed to partner Vinnie Armstrong ‘25. Vinnie hammered his hammies to power around the bend and fired off our always-team-best snap to Jeremy Aigbe ‘25, who anchored us home – blazing to the finish and breaking an 11-year-old provincial record.

It couldn’t have been more exciting – except it was. In the previous heat, Cobequid Educational Centre had also smashed the record... and edged us out by just 0.06 seconds. Still, becoming the second-fastest 4x100m team in Nova Scotia history is no small feat.

For perspective: CEC’s squad featured the first-and-third-place finishers in the individual 100m dash, along with a third runner who had represented Team Nova Scotia at Youth Nationals. On paper, they had by far and away the best team. By contrast, none of our runners made the 100m final. We had no business being on the podium – let alone breaking a provincial record.

Even better? Our boys also broke the legendary Wall of Payne school record, which had stood untouched since 1977.

And yes – there were five Highlanders on this relay team. We wouldn’t have made it out of the Western Region Championships without Ludo Semino Basañez ‘25, a key member of the squad. The same group came together again to run their best 4x400m of the season, finishing fifth overall. Manny also lit up the track in the 200m with a massive personal best, good for fifth place.

As she has so often done this season, Luciana Zazueta Ibarra ‘27 led the charge for the girls. She earned a hard-fought bronze medal in the 1500m on Day 1, then returned on Day 2 for another podium battle in the 3000m – taking home her second bronze of the meet. Luciana laced up her spikes once more for the intermediate girls 4x400m relay, joined by Natalia Shaw ‘27, Heather Lawton ‘28, and Mielle Lawrence ‘28.

The 4x100m intermediate relay team of Shaw, Lawton, Lawrence, and Fedora Asoh ‘27 came heartbreakingly close to the podium, missing the bronze by just 0.08 seconds.

Heather Lawton ‘28 placed ninth in her 800m, and both high jumper Marlowe Lister Wade ‘29 and long jumper Lily Williams ‘27 reached their finals, placing seventh overall.

 

About the only thing longer than one of my recaps is my list of thank-yous.

The diversity of events in track and field demands many hands and hearts, showing up day in and day out – often behind the scenes. I apologize if I’ve inadvertently left anyone out, but I trust I’ve thanked you personally (and hopefully more than once).

Thank you Mrs. Tanna (Goldberg) Schulich ‘60, and her husband, Mr. Seymour Schulich for giving us the opportunity to run, jump, and throw on the Tanna Track. Mrs. Sue Bouwman precedes my time here and is as much a part of the foundation of this program as anyone that came before her. Mr. Mark Walker could be found through nearly all junior and senior practices wherever he was needed. Mr. Brodi Robinson kept the distance runners huffing and puffing. Our track family became stronger with more family in the way of Ms. Rachael Timmermans helping the juniors each day this spring. And that family theme was in action all winter with junior track practice supported by Mrs. Sandie Armstrong, and all seasons with the snow shoveling skill of Mr. Donnie Armstrong. We also very much welcomed the keenness of Ms. Meghan Keoughan to our fold. Mr. Derek Bouwman kept trying to have students jump his height over the bar – next year, for sure.

We hosted four track and field meets this year, which is more than any other school in SSNS. That could not have been done without the incredible parent support of Mr. Edward James, Mrs. Paula James, Mr. Ian Shaw, and Mr. Greg Wile. Ms. Skye Hussey ‘26 provided valuable finish line support through all of our meets this season. Though not KES alum or parents, our track meets would not have run nearly so smoothly without Mr. Andre Benoit, Mr. Alex Labrecque, and Mr. Tristan Shaw. In the weeks leading up to our competitions I pester Mr. Brandon Jodrey and his Maintenance staff, but especially Mr. John MacKay. In the hours and minutes before the first gun starts the first runners, I am probably seeking any or all of these men to save the day: Mr. Derek Parker, Mr. Mike Gates, and Mr. Brian Matheson. We couldn’t travel to compete without the vans and buses of Ms. Kim Shanks and Mr. Wade Trider, and keeping us moving in another way is Ms. Jennie Sawler. It was the vision and commitment of Mr. Joseph Seagram to bring us this track. Finally and always, thank you, Guy Payne.