It was a podium-filled finish to the high school season for the many local athletes who compete in throwing events in track and field.
Arborg Collegiate Institute’s Jayden Hibbert earned a bronze medal in varsity boys discus with a throw of 36.14 metres
Gimli High School’s Jencie Henry (left) and Jerika Samborski celebrate their podium finishes at the Manitoba Provincial Track & Field Championships. Henry captured gold medals in varsity girls discus and shot put, while Samborski earned silver in junior varsity girls discus
Interlake throwers took centre stage at last weekend’s Manitoba Provincial Track & Field Championships, where double-digit numbers of local throwers reached the top-12 finals across the various events.
Headlining the results were Gimli High School’s Jencie Henry and Jerika Samborski, along with Riverton Collegiate Institute’s Hudson Charrier and Arborg Collegiate Institute’s Jayden Hibbert, who each secured podium finishes.
The pair from Gimli both found themselves on the podium in discus, as Henry captured gold in varsity girls while Samborski collected silver in junior varsity girls.
Both throws marked personal bests, while Henry’s 45.15-metre heave also set a provincial record. She additionally claimed gold in the varsity girls shot put event.
Hudson Charrier, meanwhile, took silver in the varsity boys shot put with a 15.13-metre throw in the finals following a personal-best 15.37-metre mark in the qualifying round, while Hibbert took home bronze in varsity boys discus with a 36.14-metre heave.
“The nice thing was just the number, even if it’s not a podium finish, just the number that advanced to finals,” said Justin Charrier, who coaches the Interlake throwers outside of school time as part of Predator Athletics Club’s satellite program.
“Those were the ones who medalled. Along with them were a whole bunch who finished top 10 and top five and things like that. To see them pull it together, it really shows kind of where the season started and where it progressed. They did what they had to do on that weekend.”
Justin said he expects some of the throwers to continue their seasons into the summer with the upcoming Western Canada Team Challenge and U16/U18 Nationals.
One who will certainly be on Team Manitoba’s radar is Henry, who is already committed to the University of Lethbridge.
“She’s got very high potential,” said Justin Charrier. “Right now we are at U20 Nationals, so she finished her shot put the other day and she finished seventh. Sunday, we have discus and she’s ranked third coming in. Next year, she’s committed to going to Lethbridge on a throwing scholarship. In Lethbridge, she’s going to work with Larry Steinke, who is a national throws coach, and part of our conversation with Larry has always been it’s not what she’s going to do at the university level, but it’s kind of what’s going to follow the university level. He sees that potential as well, and I see lots of things happening still.”
Henry will also compete at the Athletics Manitoba Age Class Provincial Championships this summer before heading to Lethbridge, Alta.
Her training there gets started once she heads down in the fall.
“They have a great throwing program and Larry is just an awesome coach, and he’s been talking to Justin for quite some time,” said Henry. “I have had the chance to talk with him before I committed, and he’s just awesome. He knows so much.”
