CAYUGA—The movie Field of Dreams says, “If you build it, he will come.” In the case of Athletiques International Track and Field Club of Cayuga, many have come to expand their skills.
At a recent recognition ceremony, five members of the local club, including four provincial champions, were honoured, with three of them being current Haldimand residents.
Eight-year-old Marijke Veurink of Hagersville was the club’s first Ontario Champion of 2024, as the surprise winner of the Under-10 girls shot put at the Athletics Ontario Rising Stars competition on February 24 at York University.
Adrian Radun of Jarvis, 10-years-old, was also an unexpected champion from the same meet, capturing gold in the Under-12 boys 300m and tying a guest athlete from the United States in 52.214 seconds.
A former Caledonia resident now living in Flamborough, nine-year-old Malaya teBrake won both the Minor Track Association and Athletics Ontario titles in high jump and finished the year as #1 in Canada for her age.
Another former resident, now living in Milton, 11-year-old Lydia Kunarajah won multiple Ontario Championships, both indoor and out, to rank #1 indoors for high jump in the under-12 girls category.
Kunarajah then expanded her resume by ranking #1 in discus (Ontario Record of 30m) and javelin for the outdoor campaign.
Also recognized for her work was coach Shannon Veurink of Hagersville. Although only in her first year of coaching, notice was made of her attention to detail, recording training times and distances in her book, and even taking the initiative when it came to acquiring needed equipment.
