2006 in Review

2006 was another impressive year for Vancouver Olympic Club athletes. In the senior program, Lauren Seibel won a bronze medal at the National Senior Championships in the 400m with a personal best time of 53.22. Also representing VOC at the National Championships were Lauren Welch who placed 4th in the 400m Hurdles, Ira Thompson who ran the 400m, and Danaka Porter who competed in the 100m and 200m.

Zaria Stoffman represented our club at the National Junior Championships where she placed 3rd in the High Jump. Zaria also won the 100m Hurdles at the B.C. Championships. Andrew Cooke won the 400m Hurdles in the B.C. Championships and represented B.C. in the BC/Alberta dual meet, 400mH, where he placed 2nd.

Lauren Seibel represented Canada in the 400m at the Francophone Games in Niger last January, and Ira Thompson and Lauren Welch represented Canada at the NACAC (Under 23) Games in the Dominican Republic last July.

The following athletes scored PBs in the events indicated: Mike Averill (400m), Ira Thompson (400m), Matt McEachern (400m), Lauren Welch (400mH), Kane Porter (100m and 200M) and Zaria Stoffmann (100mH). Also representing VOC last year at the senior level was Adam Street.

These Vancouver Olympic Club senior athletes are coached by Richard Hillson.

Junior Development

In the Junior Development program, ten young VOC athletes received B.C. Athletics Achievement Crests for their 2006 track and field accomplishments. At the Gold Crest Level were Stephanie Cho, Phil Chow, Heather LePard, Nico Manio, Chris Mori, Sidney Rodriguez, and Katherine Tourigny. Kashtin De Souza earned a Silver Level Crest and a Bronze Crest was earned by both Shira Druker and Brayden Gee.

Stephanie Cho and Katherine Tourigny received further honours at the Annual B.C. Athletic Junior Development Awards Banquet held in October. Stephanie Cho received four JD awards, one for each of her four All-Time Top Ten B.C. records in 2006. Stephanie's record making events were 60m Hurdles, 800m, 1500m, and Pentathlon. Katherine Tourigny was honoured for her All-Time Top Ten B.C. record in 200m Hurdles.

In 2006, the B.C. Championship Cross Country Series comprised six races attracting participants province wide. Runners accumulated points from each race, their best three finishes used to determine their standings in the series. Stephanie Cho of VOC won all six races for nine year old girls taking 1st Place for the series. Katherine Tourigny placed third overall for the series (twelve year old girls) and Heather LePard fourth place (eleven year old girls).

The Vancouver Olympic Club junior athletes are coached by Besnik and Tatjana Mece.