By Larry Moko
It wasn’t some ‘ONE’ that caught up with St. Thomas More speedster Amelia Dodds on the track last year.
It was some ‘THING’ – injury.
“Last year Amelia got hurt at OFSAA,” Dodds’ coach Phil Steel said Thursday during a high school competition at the Ray Lewis Track and Field Centre. “We went into the final of the 400metres as the second seed, but she didn’t run the final or in the 800m the next day.”
That injury also prevented Dodds from participating in summer nationals.
“She’s trying to get back and have a good year. We’ve got a long year ahead. We don’t want to get too sharp too early.”
At Day 2 of the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference track and field championships Thursday, Dodds displayed her talent in the senior girls’ 400m. She finished first with a clocking of 56.96 seconds.
Her 800m race is scheduled for Friday During Day 3 of GHAC.
The top five finishers in each GHAC event advance to regional finals, June 1-2 at Brampton’s Terry Fox Stadium.
“Everything has been going really well,” Dodds said of her training to this point. “It was my first 56 (seconds) of the year. I didn’t PB, but that’s OK.
“Tomorrow, in the 800m, I hope to get below 2:13.”
Dodds scored double victories in the 400m and 800m throughout her qualification races for OFSAA last year. Her sister, Olivia, is currently on a track scholarship at Boston University.
“I’m not sure what my plans are yet,” Dodds said, “but I’m going to the States for sure.”
Six other athletes from Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic schools finished first in their events. They were: Latoya Fletcher, More, novice girls’ high jump, 1.45m; Ben Kingston, Bishop Ryan, 100m junior boys’ hurdles, 15.94; Juliet Nguyen, More, 100m (PARA 1) girls, 17.89; Chloe Seiler, Bishop Tonnos, junior girls’ 1500m, 5:07.96; DeNeilson Stewart, senior boys’ high jump, 1.80m; Addison Seiler, Bishop Tonnos, novice girls’ long jump, 4.34m; Peter Konney, St. Jean de Brebeuf, novice boys’ high jump, 1.65m.
Other Hamilton-Catholic qualifiers in the novice, junior and senior categories for boys and girls included: Amanda Milembamane, Bishop Ryan, NG 80m hurdles; Seanna Garcia, Brebeuf, SG 100m hurdles; Isaiah Slegtenhorst, Brebeuf, NB 100m hurdles; Maya Goldsmith, St. Thomas More, NG high jump; Joshua Milana, Cathedral, JB 100m hurdles; Kendry Georges, Bishop Ryan, SB, 110m hurdles; Bjorn Mitchell, Bishop Ryan, SB 110m hurdles; Kayla Baxter, Cathedral, G (PARA 1) 100m; Nicolas Fricano, Tonnos, B (PARA 1) 100m; Jeffrey Somwe, Cathedral, B (PARA 1); Jamaal Williams, More, B (PARA 1) 100m; Jaidan Hamilton, St. John Henry Newman, NB long jump; Anna Ptaszek, St. Mary, NG 1500m; Rogan Monaghan, More, SB high jump; Jessica Schmid, Bishop Ryan, SG high jump; Samantha Lipinski, Bishop Ryan, JG long jump; Sophia Chareunsouk, Tonnos, SG 400m; Ben Casey, Brebeuf, NB 400m; William Canjura, Brebeuf, NB 400m; Kiera Savin, Bishop Ryan, JG 400m; Noah Methot, Cathedral, JB 400m; Maichel Wolday, Newman, SB javelin; John Harrison, Bishop Ryan, SB javelin; Nehemiah John, Bishop Ryan, JB long jump; Darrius Mullings, Tonnos, SB long jump; Lucas Barresi, Newman, SB long jump; Obinna Enyinnah, Bishop Ryan, NB high jump; Uyiosa Osa-Igbinosa, More, NB high jump; Martin Samuel, Bishop Ryan, JB high jump; Abdoulaye Bah, Bishop Ryan, SB 400m; Lucas Barresi, Newman, SB 400m; Clara Fava, Tonnos, SG 1500m; Victoria Zolaturiak, Tonnos, NG 100m; Maleik Allen, More, NB 100m; Vincent Desimone, Newman, NB 100m; Giuliana Mascitti, Tonnos, SG 100m; Abdoulaye Bah, Bishop Ryan, SB 100m; Jeremiah Washington, More, SB 100m.
The OFSAA championships are scheduled for June 8-10 in Ottawa.