Athletes from the North Coast tested themselves against the best in the province in Nanaimo last weekend for the 2014 B.C. Summer Games.
Several Prince Rupert youth hit the track for the athletics competition and, although not able to reach the podium, had a strong showing against competitors from around B.C. Cody Schaeffer cracked the top 10 in the boys 300 metre race, finishing ninth, while also placing 14th in the boys 100 metre and placing seventh as part of the boys 4x100 metre relay. Kody Deschamps had two top 20 finishes, placing 13th in the boys 300 metre and 14th in the boys 100 metre races as well as being part of the 4x100 metre relay team. Isobel LeBlanc and Emily Cavin also finished in the top 20 in their events, with LeBlanc placing 15th in the high jump and 17th in the long jump and Cavin finishing 13th in the triple jump and 16th in the 200 metre hurdles.
Prince Rupert swimmers had a strong showing in the pool. Robert Warren swam to a 10th place finish in the boys 1,500 metre freestyle, Amy Leighton finished 19th in the girls 400 individual medley and Liam McChesney placed 26th in the boys 400 metre freestyle. The swimmers also participated in team events representing the Northwest, with McChesney and Warren enjoying a 5th place finish as part of the boys 4x50 metre medley relay team. Zachary Dolan was part of the 7th place 4x50 metre free relay and Leighton was part of the 4x50 metre free and medley relay that finished 7th and 8th respectively.
Four Prince Rupert boys helped make up the Northwest soccer squad, with Shrangad Sahai, Brendan Eshom, Kaito Zatylny and Jarred McMeekin taking the pitch for the 8th place finishers. Puneet Gill represented Prince Rupert on the Northwest girls soccer team, which also finished 8th.
On the court, Suttira Johansen was part of the Northwest girls volleyball team, which had an 8th place finish.
The Northwest zone finished the games at the bottom of the medal standings, taking home three gold, four silver and seven bronze for a total count of 14 medals.