The track and field season may be winding down, but that hasn't detracted a number of dedicated athletes from getting a little extra competition in via the Track North Twilight Series.

Last Wednesday's event attracted more than 30 participants, ranging in age from five to 49.

The 200-metre dash proved to be hotly contested, with Zvia Mazal establishing a new personal best time of 26.74 seconds while Brandon Shirk covered the distance in a time of 22.33.

A track and field athlete since the age of 13, Providence Bay native Michael Niven prepares for his final year at Manitoulin Secondary, recording a time of 4:31.06 in the 1500-m race.

Despite remaining quite active as a runner, this was only the second 1500-m race that Niven had completed, preferring other variations in long-distance events.

"The steeplechase is the race I do," the 17-year-old said after completing the 1500-m event.

"There is a little bit of a pace in the 1500m, but I like the three-km and longer. You get to go hard and get to pace yourself."

Taking a short break in his training, Niven is looking forward to the fall cross-country season, having qualified for OFSAA (Ontario Federation Secondary Athletic Associations) for the past three years as a member of the Manitoulin team.

This time around, he would like to earn a berth completely on his own, finishing top three at NOSSA to enter as an individual.

"I cracked the top 100 (at OFSAA) last year," Niven said. "I would like to finish somewhere around top 30 or top 40 this year. I plan to train a lot more this summer in preparation for the fall."

Following is a breakdown of the top two finishers in each heat that was completed at the second of three Twilight meets to be held:

100-metre dash: Heat 1 - Brandon Shirk (M19) - 11.28 (1st); Heat 1 - Jeff Deault (M25) - 11.63 (2nd); Heat 2 - Zvia Mazal (W16) - 13.24 (1st); Heat 2 - Michel Mayer (M49) - 13.31 (2nd); Heat 3 - Tate O'Brien (M6) - 19.34 (1st); Heat 3 - Caston Antonioni (M8) - 19.63 (2nd).

200-metre dash: Heat 1 - Zvia Mazal (W16) - 26.74 (1st); Heat 1 - Haley Conroy (W15) - 27.94 (2nd); Heat 2 - Tate O/Brien (M6) - 40.40 (1st); Heat 2 - Caston Antonioni (M8) - 43.48 (2nd); Heat 3 - Brandon Shirk (M19) - 22.33 (1st); Heat 3 - Brandon Belan (M17) - 23.61 (2nd).

400-metre race: Brandon Belan (M17) - 57.32 (1st); Ben Jacklin (M14) - 58.23 (2nd); Nathan Jeffery (M15) - 1:00.49 (3rd); Dave Richardson (M42) - 1:08.91 (4th).

800-metre race: Brandon Belan (M17) - 2:04.57 (1st); Michael Niven (M17) - 2:08.13 (2nd); Dawson Chaperone (M14) - 2:32.82 (3rd); Ian Cogan (M12) - 2:34.25 (4th).

1,500-metre race: Michael Niven (M17) - 4:31.06 (1st); Dawson Chaperone (M14) - 5:23.60 (2nd); Lindsay Richan (W24) - 5:34.21 (3rd); Sara McIlraith (W40) - 5:45.59 (4th).

3,000-metre race: Nathan Jeffery (M15) - 9:50.30 (1st); Emily Marcolini (W17) - 11:15.50 (2nd); Emma Tallman (W21) - 11:40.20 (3rd); Dave Richardson (M42) - 11:48.30 (4th).

200-metre hurdles: Claudia Scholsser (W14) - 30.61 (1st); Rebecca Black (W15) - 31.72 (2nd); Allyson Kreps (W15) - 33.53 (3rd); Sam Pauley (W12) - 36.51 (4th).

300-metre hurdles: Bailey Gravelle (M16) - 40.18 (1st); Megan Hitchcock (W17) - 46.69 (2nd).

Posted by Arron Pickard