Not only was she crossing the line in her middle distance races seconds ahead of her nearest competition, her times were falling lower and lower with each meet. Even her seed time heading into Wednesday’s meet at Gutheridge Field was nearly a full second better than the current record, set way back when Riak’s parents were youngsters.
And so it came with little surprise when the midget girls competitor set a new record-breaking time in the 400 metres, crossing the line in 1:02.25 to break the record of 1:02.38 set in 1983 by Riverview’s K. Longmuir.
“I’m just really proud of myself, I’ve worked so hard during the season,” Riak said shortly after catching her breath and receiving congratulations from her fellow competitors. “I wasn’t really thinking about breaking a record, I was just trying to do my best. But that all comes with the hard work and it’s really nice to kind of have that sweet treat at the end.”
Interestingly enough, Riak wasn’t that far off of another record, as she ran the 800 metres in 2:25.14, missing that record by just over a second.
“So next time at districts I’m really going to go for that one and try and get my name in the record book for that meet, too,” Riak said.
Two other records fell during the meet, with Aliyah Block – the daughter of Cornerstone teacher and former national-level strongman competitor Al Block – clearing 10.58 metres to best the three-kilogram shot record set by Katie Loucks of Peacock in 2017 by over a metre. She also had her eyes on the discus record of 31.15 held by Vanier’s Caitlyn Folk from 2006, but was only able to hit 25.89 metres.
One of the newer events on the local track and field scene also saw a record broken, with Ryann Handley of Vanier setting a new score of 2098 points in the tetrathlon, exactly 100 points better than the old record set by Vanier’s Katrina Avery in 2016. Handley won three of the four events, including the 100 metres (13.59), 800 metres (2:33.83) and long jump (4.35 metres) to go along with a third place finish in the shot put (7.87 metres).
Winning individual overall titles were Peacock’s Arianna Wakeford in midget girls with three event wins (80m hurdles, long jump, triple jump) and one second (100 metres), while Peacock’s Miheret Cridland won all four of her events (400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m) to take top spot in the junior division, a feat matched by teammate Alexis Thibodeau in senior girls (80m hurdles, 100m, 200m, high jump).
Zidane Closs picked up the four-event sweep (200m, 400m, high jump, long jump) to win the midget boys division, while Crozier Holmes won all his disciplines (100m, 200m, 400m, discus) to land top spot in senior boys. Josh Auger won the 100m hurdles and triple jump to go along with second in the high jump and third in high jump to win the junior division.
Full results can be found here.
Next up for area track and field competitors will be the district championships, taking place Wednesday, May 29 at Gutheridge Field.
Top three results from each event are as follows:
Midget girls
100 metres – 1. Malea Kletzel, CCI, 13.21; 2. Arianna Wakeford, AEP, 13.96; 3. Skylar Metz, VCI, 14.02.
200 metres – 1. Akuol Riak, CCI, 27.16; 2. Aria Swanson, AEP, 27.55; 3. Skylar Metz, VCI, 28.25.
400 metres – 1. Akuol Riak, CCI, 1:02.25; 2. Aria Swanson, AEP, 1:06.34; 3. Jadyn Moser, VCI, 1:08.84.
800 metres – 1. Akuol Riak, CCI, 2:25.14; 2. Brooklyn Roney, AEP, 2:42.31; 3. Aria Swanson, AEP, 2:42.54.
1,500 metres – 1. Brooklyn Roney, AEP, 5:54.28.
3,000 metres – 1. Brooklyn Roney, AEP, 12:26.92; 2. Jadyn Moser, VCI, 12:53.50.
80m hurdles – 1. Arianna Wakeford, AEP, 13.61; 2. Avery Swanson, AEP, 13.98; 3. Sara O’Rielly, VCI, 14.16.
4x100m relay – 1. Peacock, 54.96; 2. Central, 55.40; 3. Vanier, 56.81.
High jump – 1. Avery Swanson, AEP, 1.52m; 2. Skylar Metz, VCI, 1.35m; 3. Harriett Amor, AEP, 1.35m.
Long jump – 1. Arianna Wakeford, AEP, 4.56m; 2. Malea Kletzel, CCI, 4.45m; 3. Aria Swanson, AEP, 4.38m.
Triple jump – 1. Arianna Wakeford, AEP, 10.01m; 2. Malea Kletzel, CCI, 9.43m; 3. Brooklyn Roney, AEP, 9.28.
Shot put – 1. Aliyah Block, CCS, 10.58m; 2. Ember Dusomme, CCI, 9.36m; 3. Kiara Smith, CCS, 8.45m.
Discus – 1. Aliyah Block, CCS, 25.89m; 2. Kiara Smith, CCS, 25.69m; 3. Ember Dusomme, CCI, 22.44m.
Javelin – 1. Harriett Amor, AEP, 27.33; 2. Ember Dusomme, CCI, 21.84; 3. Paige McClinton, CCI, 19.84.
Junior girls
100 metres – 1. Maurissa Metz, VCI, 13.91; 2. Ciamaka Aghamelu, CCS, 14.15; 3. Courtney Botterill, AEP, 14.59.
200 metres – 1. Maurissa Metz VCI, 28.18; 2. Courtney Botterill, AEP, 28.92; 3. Ava Viczko, VCI, 30.05.
400 metres – 1. Miheret Cridland, AEP, 1:08.34; 2. Katherine McDonald, CCI, 1:09.63; 3. Anna Maelde, AEP, 1:10.89.
800 metres – 1. Miheret Cridland, AEP, 2:42.54; 2. Vera Gauvin, CCI, 2:47.74; 3. Samantha Swalm, AEP, 2:52.22.
1,500 metres – 1. Miheret Cridland, AEP, 5:36.52; 2. Vera Gauvin, CCI, 5:56.47; 3. Samantha Swalm, AEP, 6:37.78.
3,000 metres – 1. Miheret Cridland, AEP, 12:11.34; 2. Vera Gauvin, CCI, 12:19.46; 3. Samantha Swalm, AEP, 14:04.23.
80-m hurdles – 1. Ava Viczko, VCI, 13.51; 2. Maurissa Metz, VCI, 13.55; 3. Elisa Chowdhury, AEP, 19.40.
4x100m relay – 1. Peacock, 57.13.
High jump – 1. Katherine MacDonald, CCI, 1.40m; 2. Caitlin Miller, AEP, 1.30m; 3. Sydney Measner, AEP, 1.20m.
Long jump – 1. Katherine MacDonald, CCI, 4.67m; 2. Chiamaka Aghamelu, CCS, 4.30m; 3. Ava Viczko, VCI, 4.16m.
Triple jump – 1. Samantha Swalm, AEP; 2. Katherine McDonald, CCI, 9.18m; 3. Ava Viczko, VCI, 9.03m.
Shot put – 1. Abby Grund, AEP, 7.62m; 2. Alana Gooding, CCI, 7.48m; 3. Sadie Ward, AEP, 7.09m.
Discus – 1. Maddison Thul, VCI, 22.78m; 2. Alana Gooding, CCI, 16.52m; 3. Sarah Hartmann, AEP, 16.43.
Javelin – 1. Caitlin Miller, AEP, 29.77m; 2. Taiha Jordison, VCI, 22.88m; 3. Maddisonn Thul, VCI, 21.83m.
Senior girls
100 metres– 1. Alexis Thibodeau, AEP, 13.17; 2. Bryn Giddings, VCI, 13.68; 3. Keely Baillie, AEP, 13.56.
200 metres – 1. Alexis Thibodeau, AEP, 27.25; 2. Olivia Mowchenko, AEP, 27.41; 3. Kirsten Hunter, RVCI, 28.18.
400 metres – 1. Camryn Gillies, AEP, 1:04.27; 2. Alyssa Roney, AEP, 1:06.18; 3. Hana Shiferaw, VCI, 1:08.93.
800 metres – 1. Alyssa Roney, AEP, 5:36.78; 2 Camryn Gillies, AEP, 2:47.15; 3. Caitlyn Johnson, AEP, 2:49.88.
1,500 metres – 1. Alyssa Roney, AEP, 5:36.78; 2. Camryn Gillies, AEP, 5:50.99.
3,000 metres – 1. Allison Grajczyk-Jelinski, VCI, 11:21.99; 2. Alyssa Roney, AEP, 12:05.19; 3. Caitlyn Johnson, AEP, 12:15.73.
80m hurdles – 1. Alexis Thibodeau, AEP, 12.96; 2. Camryn Gillies, AEP, 13.32; 3. Kirstie Johnson, CCI, 13.69.
4x100m relay – 1. Peacock, 54.05; 2. Vanier, 56.87; 3. Central, 58.55.
4x400m relay – 1. Peacock, 4:32.08; 2. Central, 4:34.86; 3. Vanier, 4:45.45.
High jump – 1. Alexis Thibodeau, AEP, 1.50m; 2. Abby Busch, AEP, 1.40m; 3. Camryn Gillies, AEP, 1.35m.
Long jump – 1. Bryn Giddings, VCI, 4.74m; 2. Olivia Mowchenko, AEP, 4.48m; 3. Abby Busch, AEP, 4.44m.
Triple jump – 1. Olivia Mowchenko, AEP, 10.10m; 2. Bryn Giddings, VCI, 9.95m; 3. Abby Busch, AEP, 9.73m.
Shot put – 1. Myra Szabo, AEP, 9.11m; 2. Abby Shiers, AEP, 7.58m; 3. Megan MacDonald, AEP, 7.00m.
Discus – 1. Taleah Smith, CCS, 27.74m; 2. Megan MacDonald, AEP, 24.88; 3. Myra Szabo, AEP, 23.93m.
Javelin – 1. Delaney Townsend, VCI, 34.01; 2. Jane Morris, VCI, 26.64m; 3. Jessica Kreutzer, EVCI, 25.54m.
Tetrathlon 100m – 1. Ryann Handley, 13.59; 2. Katie Coulson, CCI, 14.43; 3. Inga Tittemore, AEP, 14.66.
Tetrathlon, 800m – 1. Ryann Handley, VCI, 2:33.83; 2. Katie Coulson, CCI, 2:42.20; 3. Inga Tittemore, AEP, 2:50.69.
Tetrathlon long jump – 1. Ryann Handley, VCI, 4.35m; 2. Katie Coulson, CCI, 4.07m; 3. Inga Tittemore, AEP, 4.00m.
Tetrathlon shot put – 1. Katie Coulson, CCI, 8.64 m; 2. Alexis Lang, AEP, 8.02m; 3. Ryann Handley, VCI, 7.87m.
Tetrathlon overall – 1. Ryann Handley, VCI, 2098; 2. Katie Coulson, CCI, 1852; 3. Alexis Lang, 1636.
Midget boys
100 metres – 1. Logan Cushway, CCI, 12.50; 2. Kyle Yamniuk, AEP, 13.01; 3. Connor Ruckaber, VCI.
200 metres – 1. Zidane Closs, VCI, 24.05; 2. Logan Cushway, CCI, 24.69; 3. Kyle Yamniuk, AEP, 26.31.
400 metres – 1. Zidane Closs, VCI, 55.32; 2. Logan Cushway, CCI, 58.49; 3. Jacob King, CCI, 1:00.59.
800 metres – 1. Jacob King, CCI, 2:31.64; 2. Zarek Sand, CCI, 2:39.54; 3. Adair Choul, VCI, 2:44.51.
1,500 metres – 1. Jacob King, CCI, 5:19.43; 2. Rafael Pondevida, AEP, 5:34.03; 3. Davin Miller, AEP, 5:34.70.
3,000 metres – 1. Jacob King, CCI, 10:55.59.
100 metre hurdles – 1. Connor Ruckaber, VCI, 15.18; 2. Jacob Gyman, RVCI, 15.49; 3. Edison Villamor, AEP, 17.18.
4x100m relay – 1. Vanier, 52.12; 2. Peacock, 52.84.
High jump – 1. Zidane Closs, VCI, 1.63m; 2. Bryce Baumann, AEP, 1.60m; 3. Dominick Mall, AEP, 1.55m.
Long jump – 1. Zidane Closs, VCI, 5.39m; 2. Rafael Pondevida, AEP, 4.80m; 3. Tayler Warren, VCI, 4.53m.
Triple jump – 1. Samuel Barth, CCI, 10.79m; 2. Bryce Baumann, AEP, 10.62m; 3. Davin Thibodeau, AEP, 9.19m.
Shot put – 1. Eron Mowchenko, CCI, 11.30m; 2. Connor Ruckaber, VCI, 10.95m; 3 Bryson Patsack, CCI, 10.17.
Discus – 1. Brodi Noble, VCI, 38.66m; 2. Kyle Yamniuk, AEP, 28.50m; 3. Davin Miller, AEP, 27.82m.
Javelin – 1. Samuel Barth, CCI, 36.27m; 2. Kyle Yamniuk, AEP, 33.81m; 3. Davin Miller, AEP, 30.49m.
Junior boys
100 metres – 1. Kaleb Schanowski, CCI, 12.78; 2. Adam Blatchford, AEP, 12.86; 3. Logan Widenmeier, AEP, 12.94.
200 metres – 1. Kaleb Schanowski, CCI, 25.74; 2. Logan Widenmeier, AEP, 25.99; 3, Colton Clemenshaw, VCI, 25.74.
400 metres – 1. Colton Clemenshaw, VCI, 57.24; 2. Zach Adams, AEP, 58.11; 3, Natan Shiferaw, VCI, 59.90.
800 metres – 1. Jared Booth, CCI, 2:22.90; 2. Rainer Olson, VCI, 2;22.96; 3. Hayes Mealing, AEP, 2;27.59.
1,500 metres – 1. Jared Booth, CCI, 5:03.92; 2. Rainer Olson, VCI, 5:35.05; 3. Hayes Mealing, AEP, 5:39.38.
3,000 metres – 1. Jared Booth, CCI, 10:57.88; 2. Hayes Mealing, AEP, 12:08.97.
100m hurdles – 1. Josh Auger, VCI, 15.11, 2. Adam Blatchford, AEP, 15.87.
4x100m relay – 1. Peacock, 49.35; 2. Central, 51.26; 3. Vanier, 51.49.
High jump – 1. Devin Baumann, AEP, 1.66m; 2. Dallas Erickson, AEP, 1.65m; 3. Josh Auger, VCI, 1.60m.
Long jump – 1. Jake McLean, CCI, 5.44m; 2. Josh Auger, VCI, 5.36m; 3. Eh Teina, CCI, 5.19m.
Triple jump – 1. Josh Auger, VCI, 12.14m; 2. Adam Blatchford, AEP, 11.45m; 3. Jude Tysdal-Fall, AEP, 11.05m.
Shot put – 1. Xander Montgomery, VCI, 11.22m; 2. Connor Rowsell, AEP, 9.89m; 3. Hayes Mealing, AEP, 8.73m.
Discus – 1. Xander Montgomery, VCI, 30.53m; 2. Tristan Statham, VCI, 27.00m; 3. Dallas Erickson, AEP, 26.07m.
Javelin – 1. Connor Rowsell, AEP, 34.19m; 2. Dallas Erickson, AEP, 33.76; 3. Tristan Statham, VCI, 33.04.
Senior boys
100 metres – 1. Crozier Holmes, CCI, 11.62m; 2. Kienan Kleisinger, CCI, 11.83; 3. Alex Enns, AEP, 11.94.
200 metres – 1. Crozier Holmes, CCI, 22.63m; 2. Kienan Kleisinger, CCI, 23.93; 3. Rayann Cabral, VCI, 23.77.
400 metres – 1. Crozier Holmes, CCI, 57.66; 2. Adoor Choul, VCI, 57.93; 3. Alex Enns, AEP, 59.18.
800 metres – 1. Kal McGillis, CCI, 2:08.71; 2. Adoor Choul, VCI, 2:12.40; 3. Morgan Kilgour, CCI, 2:17.97.
1,500 metres – 1. Kal McGillis, CCI, 4:32.36; 2. Morgan Kilgour, CCI, 4:39.23; 3. Sam Moyse, VCI, 4:44.21.
3,000 metres – 1. Kal McGillis, CCI, 9:44.97; 2. Morgan Kilgour, CCI, 10:14.81; 3. Sam Moyse, VCI, 10:44.09.
100m hurdles – 1. Cooper Cole, VCI, 14.90; 2. Dennis Calubia, VCI, 16.27; 3. Joseph Amor, AEP, 17.00.
4x100m relay – 1. Vanier, 46.51; 2. Central, 48.85; 3. Peacock, 49.95.
4x400m relay – 1. Central, 3:51.26; 2. Peacock, 3:58.84; 3. 3:58.86.
High jump – 1. Riley Seaborn, CCI, 1.75m; 2. Phillip O’Reilly, VCI, 1.55m; 3. Tata Mugisha, AEP, 1.50m.
Long jump – 1. Rayann Cabral, VCI, 5.84m; 2. Cooper Cole, VCI, 5.68m; 3. Alex Enns, AEP, 5.54m.
Triple jump – 1. Cooper Cole, VCI, 11.85m; 2. Josh Reidy, CCI, 11.40m; 3. Kyle Gotana, VCI, 11.16.
Shot put – 1. Zach Beitel, CCS, 11.52m; 2. Dylan Yamniuk, AEP, 9.58m; 3. Dalton Taylor, AEP, 9.54m.
Discus – 1. Crozier Holmes, CCI, 31.98m; 2. Brody Sims, AEP, 28.98m; 3. Logan Lavoie, AEP, 28.59.
Javelin – 1. Phillip O’Rielly, VCI, 36.09m; 2. Brody Sims, AEP, 35.04; 3. Dylan Yamniuk, AEP, 31.58m.
Tetrathlon 100m – 1. Henok Shiferaw, VCI, 11.91; 2. Marc-Andre Doyon, VCI, 11.93m; 3. Lucas Dyck, CCI, 12.12.
Tetrathlon 800m – 1. Marc-Andre Doyon, VCI, 2:17.89; 2. Henok Shiferaw, VCI, 2:17.94; 3. Ethan Callaghan, AEP, 2:20.50.
Tetrathlon long jump – 1. Henok Shiferaw, VCI, 5.58m; 2. Marc-Andre Doyon, VCI, 5.34m; 3. Lucas Dyck, CCI, 5.10m.
Tetrathlon shot put – 1. Marc-Andre Doyon, VCI, 10.72m; 2. Lucas Dyck, CCI, 9.84m; 3. Ethan Callaghan, AEP, 8.96m.
Tetrathlon overall – 1. Marc-Andre Doyon, VCI, 2273; 2. Henok Shiferaw, VCI, 2185, 3. Ethan Callaghan, AEP, 1913.
