NEWS RELEASE
COLLINGWOOD COLLEGIATE FIGHTING OWLS
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The Collingwood Collegiate Fighting Owls Track and Field team roared out of the blocks with some great results in the early 2023 season. A huge team of over 90 athletes has already taken on some of Ontario’s best and served notice that they will be a force in the sport as the GBSSA Championships quickly approach on May 17.
This years’ competition began with two invitational meets which saw the Black and Gold capturing the overall team championship at the St. Theresa’s Invitational in Midland and also finishing third at the Durham Region Invitational, featuring several of the top schools from the region east of Toronto and OFSAA’s Central Regional area. Gaining valuable experience with some fine performances in Oshawa, the squad then out-paced the field in Midland by capturing the Girls’ Boys’ and Overall team titles. 11 Owls grabbed gold in their respective events and overall 36 podium finishes were notched by C.C.I. athletes.
Most recently Track and Field attention has turned to the local qualifying meets and Collingwood athletes again acquitted themselves very well as they captured the North GBSSA title in commanding fashion. May 12th saw secondary schools from north Simcoe County, Muskoka and Parry Sound come together in Midland to attempt to qualify for the Georgian Bay Championships (GBSSA). Collingwood Collegiate took 82 athletes to the meet and captured the Girls’ Overall title, top spot in the Boys’ overall standings and the Overall Combined North GBSSA Team Championship. All tolled, the team posted a total of 691 points - 300 more than the nearest rival.
In all, Collingwood Collegiate athletes posted 65 podium finishes and with the top 8 in every event moving on, there will now be nearly 70 athletes competing at the GBSSA Championships at York University on May 17. In addition to all the sprinters, distance runners, hurdlers, jumpers and throwers, C.C.I. will also send all 8 of its relay teams to the association Championships.
Special mention goes out to the team members who captured first place honours in one or more of their events. That impressive list includes Sabine Cornell, Ben Mundle, Miles Dempsey, Wes MacMillan, Stella Fry, Jack Sands, Jack Shaw, Nathan Sims, Payton Dodd, Avery O’Neill, Max Sloan, Matty Barr, Ewan Hurley, Evan Moore, Marco Savini, Keira Shawyer, Mackenzie Wall as well as the Senior Girls 4x100m relay and the Open Girls 4x400m relay teams.
The Owls now prepare to defend their 2022 GBSSA Overall Team Championship on May 17 and then qualify as many athletes as possible for the OFSAA Central Regional meet later in May - en route to the OFSAA Championships in Ottawa on June 8- 10.
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