All about OFSAA: Ontario’s top high school track stars headed to London

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For the first time in more than a dozen years, thousands of Ontario’s top student-athletes will gather at Western University’s Alumni Stadium in London for the OFSAA track and field championships – the pinnacle of high school sports. LFP reporter Heather Rivers delves into what to expect.

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WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

The Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships for the high school track and field season will draw close to 3,000 participants from 850 Ontario schools to Western University from June 4-6.

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In order to get there, students have to qualify at three rounds of prior meets in six regions across the province. Each region sends the top four qualifiers for each event to OFSAA.

“It’s one of the largest track meets in North America and one of the largest, if not the largest high school track and field meet in Canada,” says Banting track coach Todd MacKay, who’s also the convener for the event. “They compete to find out who the best in the province is at each event.”

OFSAA UNVEILED

Athletes engage in sprints, hurdles, distance, relays, long jump, triple jump and high jump as well pole vaulting and throwing events such as shot put, discus and javelin. Some of the athletes will one day be competing on the national stage around the world.  MacKay says.

“There will likely be some future Olympians, as there is every year, competing at this event,” he said.

LOCAL TALENT

Many area kids from both London District Catholic and Thames Valley District schools will be there representing Thames Valley Regional Athletics, which oversees high school athletic programs at 40 secondary schools, says athletic co-ordinator Michelle Lange.

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The last time the championship was held in London was nearly 15 years ago, she said.

“We have so many area athletes and coaches that have been working for years to have the opportunity to go to OFSAA,” she said. “To be able to attend in your hometown, in front of your family and friends, is special.” 

Oakridge secondary school’s Julia Tunks will be there hoping to repeat her gold medal wins in shot and discus from last year.

The 17-year-old Londoner recently travelled with her dad, three-time Olympian Jason Tunks, and younger sister Jenna to Oklahoma, to try for a record discus throw. Tunks threw 62.07 metres, the second-longest throw by a Canadian woman, setting a U23 record and smashing the U20 record by more than four metres.

MacKay says Tunks “would be the first person that comes to mind that we’re going to see in the Olympics.”

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

By searching information and track the results at @OFSAA (X), @ofsaagram (Instagram) and Tik Tok (@OFSAAOFFICIAL).

ALL ABOUT OFSAA

Established in 1948, the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations is a group of 18 regional school athletic associations across the province. It’s a not-for-profit organization and a registered charity. Its vision is to be “recognized as the leader in providing opportunities for education through school sport.” It provides 40 provincial championships and five festivals for Ontario’s student-athletes that take place between September and June.

hrivers@postmedia.com

@HeatheratLFP

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