OLDS — Two throwing athletes placed second in their competitions during the 2023 Bell Canadian Track & Field Championships, held July 27-30 in Langley, British Columbia.
Dayley Reimer finished second in javelin in the U20 age group and her coach, Rachel Andres placed second in shot put.
Fellow athlete Liam Banks also competed in the national championship.
On July 27, he finished in 12th place in senior men’s discus with a throw of 42.88 metres (m).
In an email to the Albertan, Andres said Reimer got a great start in the national championship's discus competition on July 29.
Her first throw sailed more than 40 m, putting her in third place at that point.
“She held that position until her final throw when she threw a big personal best (PB) of 42.78 m to catapult to first position,” Andrews wrote.
Unfortunately, in the end, a competitor who had previously been in first place came back to reclaim it, dropping Reimer down to second place.
Earlier that day, Reimer obtained a fifth place finish in the U20 women’s shot put with a toss of 10.97 m.
On July 30, she placed sixth in discus with a throw of 31.99 m to place sixth.
“She had an amazing showing for her first year in the U20 division. I know a lot more distance is coming with her.” Andres wrote.
“Next year she will be a force to contend with in all three events and probably in a fourth event as well (the hammer throw).”
Less than an hour after Reimer’s javelin competition ended, Andres engaged in a hard-fought discus battle with Julia Tunks (the daughter of discus Olympian and Canadian record holder Jason Tunks).
“Julia took the early lead with a 54.09 m on her first throw,” Andres wrote.
“On my second throw, I threw a 54.33 m to claim the lead until Julia threw a 57.17 m on her fifth throw. She then fouled her final throw.
“I threw a 54.50m on my sixth and final throw for my best toss of the competition. Not good enough to catch her, but it was my best post baby series of throws.”
Andres, who had a baby just last year, added, “the build back to my pre-baby distances is continuing.”
On July 14 and 16 Andres competed in two international meets: the Harry Jerome Track Classic held in Langley on July 14 and the Victoria Track Classic held in Victoria, B.C . on July 16.
“My competitors were some of the top in the world from the U.S.A and Nigeria,” Andres wrote.
“It was the most competitive field I’ve thrown with since competing in the NACAC Championships in 2018.”
Andres placed seventh in the first competition with what she called “a post-baby best” of 53.95 m.
In the second competition, she finished in fifth place “with another post-baby best of 54.56 m.”
Andres and six athletes who train with her participated in provincials held July 7-9 in Sherwood Park.
Andres obtained three titles: in open discus, masters discus and masters shot put as well as two meet records in masters discus and shot put.
Her athletes put on a show as well.
In the U20 division, Reimer took first place in javelin, second in discus and shot put and third in the hammer throw.
In the open division, Banks won the discus competition and finished third in shot put.
Also in the open division, Alexis Johnson placed second in shot put and third in discus.
In the U16 division, Natalie Harrison placed second in discus, fourth in shot put, and 10th in javelin.
Abigail Ripco placed fourth in discus and fifth in javelin in the U18 division.
Jett Rosch placed fifth in discus in the U18 division.
