Shelby Jansen and Lauren Matheson were never far apart during the Spruce Capital Invitational track and field meet.
Jansen and Matheson, 13-year-olds from the Prince George Track and Field Club, finished within eye blinks of each other in three of their sprint races. In the 100-metre dash, Jansen stopped the clock in 13.52 seconds and had Matheson (13.73 seconds) right with her at the finish line. In the 200m dash, much the same scenario unfolded, with Jansen first in 27.66 and Matheson second in 27.80. In the 300m run, Jansen managed to create a bit of separation between herself and Matheson but the race was still close. It ended with Jansen clocking in at 44.19 and Matheson finishing in 46.79.
On the field, Matheson finally got the better of her friend and rival. In the long jump, she soared to a first-place mark of 4.54m, while Jansen was second with a leap of 4.27m.
Rachel Kidd and Lindsay King were two other PGTFC athletes who had outstanding weekends at the meet, held at Masich Place Stadium.
Kidd, 11, placed first in all four of her events -- the 60m dash (9.78 seconds), 100m dash (15.41), 200m dash (31.71) and long jump (4.54m).
The 12-year-old King, meanwhile, was first to the finish line in a field of 11 runners in the 80m hurdles. Her time of 15.58 seconds was slightly faster than that of second-place runner Catherine Kozlovski, who crossed the line in 15.75 seconds. King also won the 200m hurdles (33.19) and was second to Kozlovski in the 100m dash and 200m dash. In the shot put, King finished behind only Anika Schroeter and placed third in the long jump in back of winner Kendel Rogers and runner-up Allie Lehmann of Fort St. John.
In boys competition, local athletes Daniel Stratton and Keiran Leboe were two of the standout performers at the Spruce Capital.
Stratton blazed to a win in the 100m dash for 14- and 15-year-olds and also claimed victory in the 200m dash in his age group. His time in the 100 was 11.88 seconds, which placed him well ahead of clubmate Omar Medina (12.35) in the eight-runner field. In the 200m distance, Stratton ran a time of 24.29, which was again quicker than Medina (25.21).
Leboe was also competing in the 14- and 15-year-old age group and was dominant in the throwing events. He finished first in the shot put (11.77m), discus (38.18m), hammer throw (36.56m) and javelin (40.65m).
The next meet for local track and field athletes is the Jack Brow Invitational, June 29 to July 1 in Kelowna.
