PORT WILLIAMS, NS - The Launchers Athletics in Port Williams held its final meet of the season July 23, which saw provincial records shattered.
The Launcher Twilight Throws Meet was attended by 15 athletes, both male and female, from Yarmouth to Cape Breton, competing in javelin, shot put, and discus. The meet was open to a wide age range, with competitors from age 10 to 63 showcasing their skills. categories included masters, youth, midget, bantam, and pee wee.
Coach Steve Wohlmuth said he it’s been a good season for the launchers and he was happy with the turn out for the final meet of the season.
Kevin O’Keefe, a 55-year-old Aylesford resident and member of Launchers Athletics, threw 29.78 metres in javelin during the meet, beating both his personal best and the provincial record for his age category by more than a metre, which he set earlier this month in Stellarton at the 2018 Athletics NS Track and Field Championships. The previous provincial record was 28.35 m.
Fifteen-year-old Middleton resident Michael Lander-Pinard, a javelin athlete at the meet, said he enjoys small events such as this one, as they allow him to improve himself for larger competitions.
“I like doing these small throws meets,” said Lander-Pinard. “You can improve on things you’ve been trying to work on and do it in a small setting and have lots of opportunities to critique the way you’re throwing, learn from each throw, and prepare for bigger events.”
Lander-Pinard recently qualified for the NS Legion track and field team and will be competing in javelin at the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships, which will be held Aug. 10-12, in Brandon, Manitoba.
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Wolfville resident David Bambrick, 34, who finished sixth in men’s F38 shot put at the Commonwealth Games in Australia back in April, has been a member of Launchers Athletics for the past eight years and feels program is a great way for athletes of all ages to learn from one another.
“It’s great because we can all learn from one another and teach each other,” said Bambrick. “Everybody gains from either having a teammate to look up to or being a teammate that others can look up to.”
