Daily Recap – August 16, 2022

Team BC captured 5 medals, including 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze, to open week 2 of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

MEDAL STANDINGS | SCHEDULE + RESULTS | PHOTOS | LIVESTREAM

Day 11 Highlights:

• BC took home the gold and silver medals in the Women’s Athletics Hammer Throw, with Chanell Alexa Botsis (Coquitlam) setting a Canada Games Record
• The BC pair won a bronze medal in the Women’s 1000m Kayak event
• Evan Russell of Team BC brought home a silver medal in the Men’s Road Cycling Individual Team Trial event

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Athletics

BC captured its first Gold medal of Week 2, winning gold and silver in Women’s Hammer Throw. Chanell Alexa Botsis (Coquitlam) set a Canada Games Record while fellow BC native, Tashia Willing (Chilliwack) won the silver in a one, two podium finish at Canada Games Park. Ella Foster (New Westminster) of Team BC secured a bronze medal after clearing a height of 3.50m in the Women’s Pole Vault event.

Para athletics saw heats in the 100m and 400m. In the 100m, Leo Sammarelli (T54) (Vancouver) and Paul Guerrero (T53) (Vancouver) advanced to the A Final by finishing second and third in their respective heats. In the 400m, both raced in Heat 2. Sammarelli finished second to advance to the A Final. Guerrero crossed the line third but was disqualified for a lane violation.

In women's shot put, Para thrower Tiana Hesmert (F52) (Richmond) beat her personal best three times on the way to a fifth place finish with a distance of 3.36m and a score of 345 points.

Special Olympics athletics ran heats in the Men’s and Women’s 100m, with all athletes advancing to the A Finals on Friday. Jesse Thibeault (Surrey) and Thomas Rak (Surrey) finished first and second in Men’s Heat 1; Olivia Neuman (Cloverdale) advanced by finishing second in her heat; and April Armstrong (Burnaby) advanced with the eighth fastest time in qualification heat which also gets her into the A Final.

Results
Athletics Pole Vault (F) – Ella Foster – BRONZE – 3.50m
Athletics Hammer Throw (F) – Chanell Alexa Botsis – GOLD – Canada Games Record
Athletics Hammer Throw (F) – Tashia Willing – SILVER

Athletics 100m Wheelchair (M) Heat 1 – Paul Guerrero (T53) – 20.85 – 3rd – to Final A
Athletics 100m Wheelchair (M) Heat 2 – Leo Sammarelli (T54) – 18.87 – 2nd – to Final A
Athletics 400m Wheelchair (M) Heat 2 – Leo Sammarelli (T54) – 1:14.11 – 2nd – to Final A
Athletics 400m Wheelchair (M) Heat 2 – Paul Guerrero (T53) – DQ    
Athletics Shot Put Para (F) – Tiana Hesmert (F52) – 3.45m – 5th place

Athletics 100m Special Olympics (M) Heat 1 – Jesse Thibeault – 12.18 – 1st – to Final A
Athletics 100m Special Olympics (M) Heat 1    – Thomas Rak – 12.22 – 2nd – to Final A
Athletics 100m Special Olympics (F) Heat 1 – April Armstrong – 16.09 – 4th – to Final A    
Athletics 100m Special Olympics (F) Heat 2 – Olivia Neuman – 15.40 – 2nd – to Final A

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Canoe Kayak

Abigail Donaldson (Kamloops) and Cassidy MacPherson (Maple Ridge) of the BC women’s kayak team brought home the bronze medal for Team BC in the 1000m Kayak event at the Welland International Flatwater Centre on Tuesday. The pair qualified for the medal heat after coming in second in the qualification heat just behind Nova Scotia.

Result
Canoe Kayak (F) K-2 1000m – Abigail Donaldson and Cassidy MacPherson – BRONZE – 3:59.030

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Cycling

Team BC’s Evan Russell (Mill Bay) won a silver medal in the Men’s Individual Time Trial Road Cycling event which took place at the Township of Wainfleet.

“It was an impressive day to see our athletes embrace the Games atmosphere and throw down some impressive numbers,” said coach Tara Mowat. “A great way to kick off week 2 of the Games.”

Result
Road Cycling Individual Time Trial (M) – Evan Russell – SILVER – 27:24.86

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Diving
Six BC athletes competed in two diving events today at the Etobicoke Olympium on Tuesday. Michelle McLeod (Spruce Grove, AB) finished in fifth place and Keira Lu (Victoria) finished sixth. Two BC mixed diving teams also competed, and came in eighth and ninth place.

Results
Artistic Diving (F) – Michelle McLeod – 5th place – 192.15 points
Artistic Diving (F) – Keira Lu – 6th place – 191.65

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Box Lacrosse

Nolan Ross (Port Coquitlam) scored twice and Jordan Reed (Coquitlam) added another but it wasn’t enough as Ontario took a 8-3 victory to start the Men’s competition at Canada Games Place.

“We’re getting our feet under us here,” said Aidan McDonald. “You don’t win the gold on the first day, we just have to capitalize when we have the chance and stay out of the penalty box.”

Result
Box Lacrosse (M) vs Ontario – 8-3 loss

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Soccer

BC opened Pool A action with a 1-1 draw against Quebec on Tuesday at Youngs Sportsplex. 
BC rallied from a 1-0 deficit to tie it up in the 73rd minute as Joy Kimwemwe (Vancouver) buried a shot into the bottom right corner to even up the game.

BC will once again match up with Quebec on Thursday for their second and last preliminary round game, with the winner advancing to the semi-final.

Results
Soccer (F) vs Quebec – 1-1 Draw

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Softball

Team BC split their opening day matchups at Southward Community Park. After falling 7-0 to Nova Scotia in the opening game of Men’s Softball. In the late game versus Newfoundland and Labrador, Richard French (Prince George) hit a two-run home run in the third inning which helped them win their first win of the tournament, 3-2. 

Results
Softball (M) vs Nova Scotia – 7-0 Loss (5 innings)
Softball (M) vs Newfoundland & Labrador – 3-2 Win

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Volleyball

BC’s women’s volleyball team made their start at the Canada Summer Games with a 3 set to 1 victory over Team New Brunswick at Canada Games Park. BC dropped the first set before controlling the next three to open the tournament with a win.

“The first match at major events are always difficult,” said Head Coach, Ryan Adams. “Credit to New Brunswick for playing well but it took us a while to find our flow but once we did, we controlled the match. It was nice to get the win.”

The Men’s squad also opened up the event on a positive note with a four set win over New Brunswick. The team squeaked out the first two sets before dropping a tight third one. They would finish things off in the fourth set to get the victory.

“We got the nerves out of the way early and got the win. That’s how we want to start off the games,” said Sebastien Manuel, outside hitter.

Results
Volleyball (F) vs New Brunswick – 3 sets – 1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-17) Win
Volleyball (M) vs New Brunswick – 3 sets – 1 (25-22, 26-24, 21-25, 25-20) Win

Schedule for August 17
9:00am – Athletics – Canada Games Park
9:00am – Golf – Round 1 – Legends on the Niagara
9:00am – Rowing – Qualification Heats – Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course
9:30am – Canoe-Kayak – Heats + Finals – Welland International Flatwater Centre*
9:30am – Diving – Preliminaries – Etobicoke Olympium
11:00am – Sailing – Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club*
12:00pm – Softball vs. Ontario – Southward Community Park
2:00pm – Volleyball (M) vs. Saskatchewan – Niagara College – Welland
2:00pm – Box Lacrosse vs. Nova Scotia – Canada Games Park
2:15pm – Athletics – 1500m Wheelchair Male Final – Canada Games Park*
3:45pm – Athletics – 3000m Steeplechase Finals – Canada Games Park*
5:00pm – Diving – Finals – Etobicoke Olympium*
5:50pm – Athletics – 1500m Decathlon Final Event – Canada Games Park*
6:00pm – Softball vs. Manitoba – Southward Community Park
6:00pm – Volleyball (W) vs Saskatchewan – Canada Games Park