Okkerse sets two Tri-County records

 

   Parkside' runner wins three novice boys races at TVRA track and field,

   teammate Sauer takes novice boys 100, 200 and high jump gold

 

May 17, 2026

 

 

 

 

By Rob J. Ross 

LONDON, Ont. - Nash Okkerse continues his dominance of Thames Valley Region Athletics (TVRA).

The runner from Parkside Collegiate won all three of his novice boys races, setting records in two of his gold medal performances, at the TVRA track and field championships, May 14-15 at Western University.

Okkerse set a personal best (PB) taking the novice boys 1500-metre race in a new Tri-County time of four minutes and 15.74 seconds (4:15.74) on day one. Day two, another PB winning the 800 metres with a Tri-County record time of 2:01.01. The TVRA record of 1:58.62, is held by Medway High's Ryan Georgeson set in 2023.

"I wanted to open up on my first lap hard, but I was sore before the race from yesterday (1500m) and the wind is pretty hard on the back stretch. I ended with a PB. I was hoping for a little bit faster, but I'm happy with it," Okkerse said. "It was windy for the 15. I just tried my best to stay smooth and fight through the wind."

Okkerse completed his hat trick of gold medals, taking the novice boy 3000 metres (9:57.85).

TVRA keeps records for overall and the two conferences, Central (London) and Tri-County (Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford).

Last fall, Okkerse won his race at all five of the TVRA cross country meets, including the championship, on his way to OFSAA gold.

Parkside athletes shined at TVRA, bringing home 12 gold medals and qualifying 19 athletes and two relay teams for WOSSAA.

The top 12 in each event, advance to WOSSAA, May 21-22 at Western.

Xavier Sauer, joined Okkerse as a three event winner, winning the novice boys 100 and 200 metre sprints and high jump.

Mehkai Arnold won junior boy discus (57.27m) and shot put (15.37m) and placed 12th in javelin (32.30m).

A year ago as a novice, Arnold won both discus and shot put at TVRA, on his way to OFSAA and a silver medal in discus.

That day remains fresh in Arnold's mind,  because of leading the competition with a 46.52 metre throw, until Noah Vanneck of Chatham-Kent had a measurement of 46.89m on his final throw.

Arnold has since connected with Olympian Jason Tunks as his coach and the results show. Arnold has added 11 metres to his PB in discus. His shot put distances have increased from 11-12 metres a year ago.

"Training with Jason, I've really slowed down all of my movements. I worked hard over the summer to get better at my craft," said Arnold. "When you go really fast, you get sloppy and out of control. I slowed down and worked on individual parts of the throw to make everything better and be able to throw further."

Kaleb Charette won novice boys discus (35.38m), placed third in javelin (34.43m) and fourth in shot put (10.95m).

Amy Williamson won the junior girl 100m dash (12.57 sec.) and placed second in triple jump (10.42m) and third in long jump (4.79m).

Emma Percy won the visually impaired girls shot put (4.77m).

Jack Rice finished first in the junior boys 3000 metres (10:19.66), sixth in the 1500m (4:49.45) and seventh in open boys 2000 metre steeplechase (7:15.30).

East Elgin Eagles Henry Scott was the fastest man at the meet, winning both the senior boys 100 (10.65 sec.) and 200m (21.83 sec.) and finishing second in the 400m in a Tri-County record of 49.13 seconds.

Medway High's Ryan Georgeson took the 400 gold in a meet record time of 48.56 seconds.

Scott's sister, Brianna, finished second in both the novice girls' 200m dash (27.54 sec.) and 300m hurdles (21.83 sec.) and third in the 400m (1:04.41).

The Eagles send 15 athletes to WOSSAA.

Senior Kirk Hallman led the Dorchester Beavers winning the 1500 (4:14.99) and 3000m (9:00.94), along with anchoring the boys 4x400m relay team to gold, with Will Downing, Curtis Willick and Mile Maude.

"We had no idea we would be good at not," Hallman said of the 4x4 team. "Not many of us do the 400. We'll just take it as far as we can. If we can get to OFSAA or OFSAS West, that would be awesome."

Hallman is looking to return to OFSAA for an eighth time, four for cross country, three so far in track and field.

"I want to build on my last season. I'm trying to recreate that and build a little more," said Hallman. "I'm happy with this meet. It was against a bunch of (London-Western) club guys, so it's nice to win, but it's also nice to see our club teammates do well in their events."

The senior is also impressed with the novices at Dorchester, pointing out Maude and Addison Lehouillier, who won 100 metre gold in a school record time of 12.71 seconds and placed second in long jump.

"It's always good to see our grade nine do well. TVRA is by far the biggest meet they've been too," said Hallman.

Fynnley Monk took novice girls javelin (28.55m) gold.

Willick won both the junior boys 800m (2:14.27) and 1500m (4:38.35).

The Beavs have 13 athletes and two relay teams heading to WOSSAA.
 

Ethan Atkinson led the St. Joe's Rams team, leaping to a Tri-County record (4.30m) in senior boy pole vault. The first year senior also finished fourth in the 400m hurdles (1:00.68) and sixth in the 110m hurdles (16.01 sec.).

Michal Hejna won the novice boy 100m (15.32 sec.) and 300m hurdles (43.87 sec.).

Danica Cober finished first in the senior girls 100m hurdles (15.15 esec.), sixth in the 400 hurdles (1:11.89) and seventh in the 200m dash (27.61 sec.).

Shawn Okorhi won senior boys high jump (1.85m).

The Rams will have 21 athletes and two relay teams at WOSSAA.

The West Elgin Wildcats will see three athletes at WOSSAA while the Central Elgin Titans will have two.

From WOSSAA, the top five move on to the OFSAA West regional in Cambridge, May 28-29.

The top four at the regional head to the OFSAA championships, June 4-6 in St. Catharines.

 

LOCAL WOSSAA QUALIFIERS                                                   COMPLETE TVRA RESULTS                                                     HURON-PERTH RESULTS

 

 

Makayla Varallo of Thorndale, with Medway High, won the novice girls 1500m (4:17.30).

St. Thomas Legion track and field club head coach Harry Stantsos, also head coach at Parkside, saw a number of the club's athletes perform well at various schools.

Breanne Sloetjes, with Strathroy District, won senior girls triple jump (11.42m) and placed second in high jump (1.50). Her siblings also fared well.

Younger sister Alayna Sloetjes placed third in the novice girls 80m hurdles (13.01 sec.) and fifth in the 300m hurdles (51.61 sec.), while brother Joel Sloetjes placed third in junior boys high jump (1.70m).

Kayla Zelibka with CCH, won the junior girls 300m hurdles (47.67 sec.) and 400m dash (1:01.68), finished second in the 80m hurdles (12.73 sec.) and helped CCH's 4x100m senior girls relay team placed second and the mixed 4x400m relay team, fourth.

 

TVRA records

Atkinson broke the senior boys pole vault record of 4.25m, that stood from 1992, held by Dorchester's Mike Nolan.

A few other notable new records:

Georgeson lowered his own TVRA record in the senior boys 800 metres from 1:52.50 to 1:52.04 and just missed the record in 400m finishing in 48.56 seconds, to Emmett Charles 2025 time of 48.46 seconds. Georgeson holds the TVRA 800m record for novice, junior and senior boys.

Mackenzie Cake of Lucas, edged out a 36 year old record (10.75m) in novice girls triple jump, set by Glencoe's Tanya Gurchin, by landing a jump of 10.94m.

Both Elliott Nash, from Aquinas, and Celeste Lugogo, from Mother Theresa, went under 12 seconds in the senior women's 100 metre dash for the first time ever at the meet. Georgea Richards, from Laurier, held the record of 12.05 seconds from 2002.

Nash finished first with a 11.95 seconds clocking, edging Lugogo (11.96 sec.) in a photo finish.

 

 

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    Local qualifying results (Elgin county schools and Dorchester)

 

CENTRAL ELGIN     DORCHESTER     EAST ELGIN     PARKSIDE     ST. JOE'S     WEST ELGIN

 

 

    CENTRAL ELGIN

Novice men: Hunter Haskell, 10th, discus, (19.64m)

Senior men:  Dollan Brown, fourth, shot put (14.02m), 11th, discus (33.86m)

 

    DORCHESTER BEAVERS

 Hallman, Willick, both two event winners.

Senior men:  Kirk Hallman, first, 1500m (4:14.99), first, 3000 (9:00.94); Andrew Urquhart, second, discus (44.67m), second, shot put (16.21); Will Downing, second, 110m hurdles (14.36 sec. - school record), second, 400m hurdles (58.84 sec.); Aiden Hartmann, third, triple jump (12.72m - school record), third, long jump (6.47m), 11th, 100m (11.29 sec.); Caden Flint, 11th, 800m (2:12.36)

Junior women: Jenna Mills, 11th, 400m (1:11.87)

Junior men: Curtis Willick, first, 1500m (4:38.35), first 800m (2:14.27);

Senior women: Aisha Medina, eighth, pole vault (2.65m); Ella De Oliveira, 10th, 3000m (12:45.25);

Novice men: Miles Maude, second, 400m (55.10 sec.), fifth, 300m hurdles (47.07 sec.), sixth, 200m (25.59 sec.);

Novice women: Addy Lehouillier, first, 100m (12.71 sec. - meet record / school record), second, long jump (4.92m); Fynnley Monk, first, javelin (28.55m); Savannah Pranger, sixth, long jump (4.57m), 21st, 100m;

Open men: boys 4x4, first (3:37.33) (Downing, Maule, Willick, Hallman)

Open women: girls 4x4, 11th (5:08.75) (Bozik, Fletcher, Mills, De Oliveira)

  

    EAST ELGIN

Henry Scott fastest over 100 and 200 metres

Senior women: Kiersten Kent, 10th, long jump (4.52m)

Senior men: Henry Scott, first, 100m (10.65 sec.), first, 200m (21.83 sec.), second, 400m (49.13 sec. - broke meet record); Benji Gould, third, 3000 (9:20.13), seventh, 1500m (4:26.97);

Junior women: Bridget Woolley, third, high jump (1.40m); Louisa Begeman, fourth, discus (26.98m), fourth, shot put (10.86m); Allison Sleegers, sixth, 1500m (5:37.20), seventh, 800m (2:41.86); Anneker Drader, 11th, long jump (4.32m);

Junior men: Hudson Dyck, fourth, 1500m (4:47.08), eighth, 800m (2:18.20); Mike Dennis, junior boys, seventh, triple jump (11.32m); Brady Brown, 12th, triple jump (10.37m);

Novice women: Brianna Scott, second, 300m hurdles (50.61 sec.), second, 200m (27.54 sec.), third, 400m (1:04.41)3); Chloe Froese, sixth, triple jump (9.57m)

Novice men: Adam Van Wychen, sixth, 3000m (10:19.31), 10th, 1500m (4:44.42); Preston Bergen, ninth, 800m (2:16.39); Ivan Klassen, 11th, long jump (5.03m);

 

    PARKSIDE

Stamps all novice and juniors to WOSSAA.

Junior men: Mehkai Arnold, first, discus (57.27m - record), first, shot put (15.37m), 12th, javelin (32.30m); Jack Rice, first, 3000m (10:19.66), sixth, 1500m (4:49.45); Brady Congdon, second, discus (43.18m); Charlie Halpenny, fourth, 100m hurdles (15.99 sec.); Tristan Spaulding, fifth, long jump (5.91m), eighth, 100m (11.68 sec.), 10th, 200m (25.10 sec.); Harrison Halpenny, seventh, 100m hurdles (16.70 sec.); Nathan Campbell, ninth, 400m (57.56 sec); Jack Moore, 10th, 400m (57.47 sec.); 4x1 relay, fourth (47.48 sec.)

Junior women: Amy Williamson, first, 100m (12.57 sec.), second, triple jump (10.42m), third, long jump (4.79m); Hannah Kish, ninth, 80m hurdles (14.25 sec.), 10th, 300m hurdles (54.45 sec.); Abby Harrison, 10th, high jump (1.25m); Cadence Baitz, 11th, 80m hurdles (16.28 sec.); 4x1 relay, fifth (53.74 sec.)

Novice men: Nash Okkerse, first, 1500m (4:15.74 - Tri-County record), first, 800 (2:01.01 - Tri-County record), first, 3000m (9:57.85); Xavier Sauer, first, 100m (11.17 sec. - Tri-County record), first, 200m (23.41 sec.), first, high jump (1.76m; Kaleb Charette, first, discus (35.38m), third, javelin (34.43m), fourth, shot put (10.95m)m (13.02 sec.);

Novice women: Maddy Wright, seventh, 800m (2:38.38), 12th, 400m (1:07.94); Raya Alkaderi, sixth, 300m hurdles (51.75 sec.); Charlie Lale, eighth, javelin (21.17m)

Visually Impaired women: Emma Percy, first, shot put (4.77m)

Open men: Jack Rice, seventh, 2000m steeplechase (7:15.30)

 

    ST. JOE'S

Atkinson set junior men's pole vault TVRA record.

Senior men: Ethan Atkinson, first, pole vault (4.30m - meet record), fourth, 400m hurdles (1:00.68), sixth, 110m hurdles (16.01 sec.); Shawn Okorhi, 1st, high jump (1.85m);

Senior women: Danica Cober, first, 100m hurdles (15.15 sec.), sixth, 400m hurdles (1:11.89), seventh, 200m (27.61 ec.); Flourish Nmor, fourth, 400m (1:02.80), fifth, 800m (2:24.39), 10th, 400m (1:04.16).

Junior men: Landon Richardson, eighth, 3000m (11:33.84); Owen Lupson, 12th, shot put (11.43m).

Junior women: Jane Hewitt, third, long jump (4.79m), fourth, triple jump (10.09m); Tessa Johnson, 11th, triple jump (8.92m); Niyla Lindsay, 11th, high jump (1.25m); Dominion Nmor, 12th, shot put (8.96m); 4x1 relay, 12th (59.34 sec.)

Novice women: Navaeh Facey, fifth, 3000m (13:15.43; Jane Okorhi, 11th, shot put (7.75m); Landyn Evagelinos, 11th, 200m (28.96 sec.); Indiana McLaughin, seventh, triple jump (9.41m)

Novice men: Michal Hejna, first, 100m hurdles (15.32 sec.), first, 300m hurdles (43.87 sec.), seventh, 400m (57.06 sec.); Hayden Siemens, fifth, high jump (1.50m), 11th, 400m (58.02 sec.); Matthew Fleuren, sixth, 800m (2:16.05), 12th, 1500m (4:45.88); Shay McCready, 10th, javelin (27.72m); Jomiloju Adebayo, 11th, 100m (12.14 sec.); Malcolm Omari, 12th, 200m (26.57 sec.); Moyinoluwa Olowolabayaki, 12th, high jump (1.40m)

Open women: Flourish Nmor, fourth, 2000m steeplechase (8:21.12)

 

    WEST ELGIN

Novice men: Everett Evans, 12th, javelin (25.81m)

Junior men: Alex Lacroix, seventh, javelin (34.07m), 12th, discus (29.85m); Reece Burke, sixth, 300m hurdles (45.75 sec.)

 

 

 

        rob@hometownplay.ca