By RYAN MCCRACKEN on May 23, 2019.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
Noah Dolter reached new heights on Wednesday at the Rotary Track – literally.
The Grade 12 Hat High student achieved a personal best in pole vault with a 3.10 metre jump at yesterday’s Medicine Hat city track meet while fine-tuning a few mechanics in anticipation of provincials.
“I haven’t jumped three metres since this time last year so it’s nice to get back up there,” said Dolter, adding a lot of small details play a big factor in every single jump. “The run has to be consistent, the jump – one of the things I’m struggling with right now is getting my arm fully extended on the jump, so there’s that – then after that you’ve got to jump, keep your knee driving up, hold it for a second and then swing your feet up above your head, pop your hips, get over it. There’s just so much to think about.”
Dolter – who competed unopposed Wednesday and received a berth to provincials due to there being no pole vault event at zone championships in Lethbridge – caught the eye of Hat High’s coaching staff as a Grade 9. Tonya Mori, who coaches Dolter alongside husband Glen Mori, says Dolter has the analytical mind required to thrive in an event where medals are won and lost in the technical details.
“In pole vault there’s a lot of movements that happen in a very short period of time, so he’s good at assessing what he needs to do in order to slowly grow the sport from beginning to now, his graduating year,” said Mori, adding Dolter faced internal and external adversity leading into Wednesday’s meet, but he still managed to come out with a personal best. “We’ve had some struggles in these practices leading up. The weather hasn’t really been favourable for us, we’ve had some struggles with him being fully extended on his jump, then today he was able to put it all together so that’s when it really counts.”
One thing that helps Dolter make the minor adjustments necessary for success is immediate video feedback. Mori films each attempt using an iPad, allowing Dolter to see exactly where he needs to make changes on ensuing attempts.
“It definitely helps a lot,” he said. “Where my plant foot is, if I’m inside or outside, if I don’t swing my knees up high enough, stuff like that. Stuff where I’m not doing great, where I can improve on.”
Dolter added he never really had to battle with a fear of heights when he took up pole vaulting due to the padding that cushions every fall, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any worries on the way down.
“I don’t know how anybody else feels but when I get over it, I land on the mat and feel relieved that I didn’t hit it, and then I immediately look back and see if the pole knocked the bar off,” said Dolter. “You have to worry about that too. If that happens it’s heartbreak, but otherwise it’s a great feeling.”
Dolter will move on to compete for the provincial podium at the Alberta Schools Athletic Association Track and Field Championships, June 7-8, at Foothills Athletic Park in Calgary. The Mohawk says it means a lot to represent his school on the provincial stage, especially given Hat High’s dominance over track and field in recent years.
“We’ve won twice in a row now, two years in a row, so I’m just hoping for the third time,” he said. “Hat High is such a big school with so many good athletes.”
Medicine Hat District Senior High Track and Field Meet Results
* – Track record
3,000 metre
Senior girls — 1. Bethany Regier (CHHS) 13:53.84
Senior boys — 1. Jacob Krueger (CHHS) 11:37.20; 2. Eli Smith (MHHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Tiahna Blaquire (EBHS) 14:27.61; 2. Mackenzie Blasing (MHHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Eric Mason (EBHS) 12:12.30
Junior girls — 1. Ayla Wikjord (Cypres) 13:03.90; 2. Rachel Regier (CHHS); 3. Juliana Piques (EBHS)
Junior boys — 1. Kaden Rath (EBHS) 11:13.65; 2. Brannon Summer (MHHS); 3. Harrison Lawson (CHHS)
1,500 metre
Senior girls — 1. Bethany Regier (CHHS) 6:04.09; 2. Campbell Bosch (MHHS); 3. Annika Bierbach (MHHS)
Senior boys — 1. Eli Smith (MHHS) 5:00.99; 2. Jacob Krueger (CHHS); 3. Jack Bjarnason (MHHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Jaci Bartram (MHHS) 6:19.07; 2. Tiahna Blaquire (EBHS); 3. Mackenzie Blasing (MHHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Gavin Derksen (EBHS) 5:14.79; 2. Will Baird (EBHS); 3. Eric Mason (EBHS)
Junior girls — 1. Ayla Wikjord (Cypres) 5:45.00; 2. Zaira Shakleton-Miller (CHHS); 3. Rachel Regier (CHHS)
Junior boys — 1. Brendan Olson (EBHS) 4:51.08; 2. Kaden Rath (EBHS); 3. Brannon Summer (MHHS)
800 metre
Senior girls — 1. Bethany Regier (CHHS) 2:52.29; 2. Campbell Bosch (MHHS); 3. Azlin Ferguson (EBHS)
Senior boys — 1. Jack Bjarnason (MHHS) 2:33.82; 2. Eli Smith (MHHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Hannah Salmon (MHHS) 2:51.86; 2. Jaci Bertram (MHHS); Mackenzie Blasing (MHHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Gavin Derksen (EBHS) 2:34.64; 2. Will Baird (EBHS)
Junior girls — 1. Ayla Wikjord (Cypres) 2:43.33; 2. Zaira Shakleton-Miller (CHHS); Sheridyn Herman (EBHS)
Junior boys — 1. Brendan Olson (EBHS) 2:17.10; 2. Brannon Summer (MHHS); 3. Ethan Pitman (MHHS)
400 metre
Senior girls — 1. Janelle Stegen (MHHS) 1:14.86; 2. Sydney Carlson (MHHS); Azlin Ferguson (EBHS)
Senior boys — 1. Gage Reinhart (EBHS) 57.79; 2. Aiden Heller (EBHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Kiana Farrell (McCoy) 1:04.50; 2. Fallon Maher (MHHS); 3. Mackenzie Blasing (MHHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Lukas Herter (MHHS) 56.40; 2. Gavin Derksen (EBHS); 3. Will Baird (EBHS)
Junior girls — 1. Amanda Robinson (MHHS) 1:08.24; 2. Zaira Shakleton-Miler (CHHS); 3. Bailey Pearson (EBHS)
Junior boys — 1. Elic Ayomanor (MHHS) 54.14; 2. Dustin Morris (Cypres); 3. Clayton Renke (EBHS)
200 metre
Senior girls — 1. Sydney Carlson (MHHS) 32.29; 2. Azlin Ferguson (EBHS)
Senior boys — 1. Zachary Campbell (MHHS) 24.10; Tayler Ferguson (McCoy)
Intermediate girls — 1. Kiana Farrell (McCoy) 28.48; 2. Jada Harper (MHHS); 3. Novalee Pender (EBHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Orin May (MHHS) 23.61; 2. Lukas Herter (MHHS) Junior girls — 1. Megan Morrison (McCoy) 28.55; 2. Micah Ferguson (MHHS); 3. Bailey Pearson (EBHS)
Junior boys — 1. Elic Ayomanor (MHHS) 23.53; 2. Ryoma Hernandez (MHHS); 3. James Thomas (McCoy)
Intellectual girls — Cambria Rattai (MHHS) 1:08.30
Intellectual boys — 1. Brody Stahl (MHHS) 31.79; Sam Henderson (MHHS); 3. Kyler Koolen (McCoy)
100 metre
Senior girls — 1. Gloria Lokbai (MHHS) 13.50; 2. Erika Rouillard (Cypres) 19.56
Senior boys — 1. Jayden Smith (MHHS) 11.31; 2. Zachary Campbell (MHHS); Brody Brandham (MHHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Jada Harper (MHHS) 13.92; 2. Anya Boodhoo (MHHS); 3. Faith Scrivener (CHHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Orin May (MHHS) 11.38; 2. Lukas Herter (MHHS); 3. Aiden Price (MHHS)
Junior girls — 1. Megan Morrison (McCoy) 13.61; 2. Micah Ferguson (MHHS); 2. Grace Nzale Nzali (Cypres)
Junior boys — 1. James Thomas (McCoy) 12.15; 2. Ryoma Hernandez (MHHS); 3. Heiryn Straub (MHHS)
Intellectual girls — Cambria Rattai (MHHS) 29.06
Intellectual boys — 1. Brody Stahl (MHHS) 15.92; 2. Sam Henderson (MHHS)
80-metre hurdles
Senior girls — 1. Brooklyn Kaczynski (MHHS) 14.35; 2. Janelle Stegen (MHHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Taya Karsten (MHHS) 13.73; 2. Fallon Maher (MHHS)
Junior girls — 1. Megan Morrison (McCoy) 13.03; 2. Claire Holt (McCoy); 3. Amanda Robinson (MHHS)
100-metre hurdles
Senior boys — 1. Cameron Hall (MHHS) 18.28; 2. Jayden Stein (McCoy)
Intermediate boys — 1. Orin May (MHHS) 14.46; 2. Kyle Spackman (MHHS)
300-metre hurdles
Open girls — 1. Kiana Farrell (McCoy) 50.83; 2. Fallon Maher (MHHS)
Open boys — 1. Orin May (MHHS) 42.68*; 2. Gage Reinhart (EBHS) 44.17
Pole Vault
Senior girls — 1. Sydney Carlson (MHHS) 1.80m
Senior boys — 1. Noah Dolter (MHHS) 3.10m
Intermediate girls — 1. Aimee Maurice (MHHS) 2.60m; 2. Larkin Kohlman (MHHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Kyle Spackman (MHHS) 1.80m
Junior girls — 1. Tyra Moch (MHHS) 2.00m; 2. Lucia Van Niekerk (CHHS)
Junior boys — 1. Hunter Ibach (CHHS) 2.60m; Ryoma Hernandez (MHHS); Berkley Miller (CHHS)
High jump
Senior girls — 1. Gloria Lokbai (MHHS) 1.55m
Senior boys — 1. Ethan Egert (MHHS) 1.70m
Intermediate girls — 1. Taya Karsten (MHHS) 1.65m
Intermediate boys — 1. Shay Alexandra (MHHS) 1.80m
Junior girls — 1. Tyra Moch (MHHS) 1.45m; Claire Holt (McCoy)
Triple jump
Senior girls — 1. Brooklyn Kaczynski (MHHS) 9.29m
Senior boys — 1. Jayden Smith (MHHS) 12.75m; 2. Cameron Hall (MHHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Taya Karsten (MHHS) 9.78m; 2. Novalee Pender (EBHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Kyle Spackman (MHHS) 11.93m; 2. Joshua Cockill (McCoy); 3. Jaxon Bos (MHHS) 9.12m
Junior girls — 1. Claire Holt (McCoy) 9.42m; 2. Micah Ferguson (MHHS); 3. Claire O’Connell
Junior boys — 1. Kaden Rath (EBHS) 10.70m
Long jump
Senior girls — 1. Gloria Lokbai (MHHS) 4.73m; 2. Brooklyn Kaczynski (MHHS); 3. Erika Rouillard (Cypres)
Senior boys — 1. Jayden Smith (MHHS) 6.01m; 2. Chris Gilham (CHHS); 3. Cameron Hall (MHHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Novalee Pender (EBHS) 4.31m; 2. Fallon Maher (MHHS); 3. Taya Karsten (MHHS) 4.12m
Intermediate boys — 1. Kyle Spackman (MHHS) 5.75m; 2. Koby Laychuk-May (McCoy); 3. Jaxon Bos (MHHS)
Junior girls — 1. Grace Nzale Nzali (Cypres) 4.46m; 2. Claire O’Connell (EBHS); 3. Sherdyn Herman (EBHS)
Junior boys — 1. Dustin Morris (Cypres); 2. Quinn McElroy-O’Driscoll (Cypres); 3. Hunter Ibach (CHHS)
Javelin throw
Senior girls — 1. Janelle Stegen (MHHS) 22.88m; 2. Paige Aasman (MHHS); 3. Annika Bierbach (MHHS)
Senior boys — 1. Zachary Campbell (MHHS) 37.18m; 2. Aiden Heller (EBHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Montana Wright (EBHS) 37.98m*; 2. Hailee Parker (MHHS); 3. Jaci Bertram (MHHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Joshua Suelzle (MHHS) 53.76m*; 2. Jaxon Bos (MHHS); 3. Triston Duchscherer (EBHS)
Junior girls — 1. Justina Renke (EBHS) 30.94m; 3. Kennedy Bloomfield (CHHS); 3. Lindsay O’Connell
Junior boys — 1. Dustin Morris (Cypres) 36.98m; 2. Quinn McElroy-O’Driscoll (Cypres); 3. Hunter Ibach (CHHS)
Discus throw
Senior girls — 1. Olivia Simonneau (MHHS) 12.10m
Senior boys — 1. Obi Aniagu (EBHS) 29.84m; 2. Aiden Heller (EBHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Montana Wright (EBHS) 24.67m; 2. Hailee Parker (MHHS); 3. Reid Wald (McCoy)
Intermediate boys — 1. Joshua Suelzle (MHHS) 40.12m; 2. Triston Duchscherer (EBHS)
Junior girls — 1. Claire Holt (McCoy) 29.61m; 2. Jaylaina Callan (MHHS); 3. Justina Renke (EBHS)
Junior boys — 1. Toras Brooks (McCoy) 32.37m; 2. Quinn McElroy-O’Driscoll (Cypres); 3. Tommy Gordon (McCoy)
Shot put
Senior girls — 1. Paige Aasman (MHHS) 8.63m; 2. Olivia Simonneau (MHHS)
Senior boys — 1. Obi Aniagu (EBHS) 10.50m; 2. Aiden Heller (EBHS)
Intermediate girls — 1. Montana Wright (EBHS) 9.03m; 2. Larkin Kohlman (MHHS); 3. Faith Scrivener (CHHS)
Intermediate boys — 1. Joshua Suelzle (MHHS) 13.13m; 2. Triston Duchscherer (EBHS)
Junior girls — 1. Josie Drefs (EBHS) 10.16m; 2. Jaylaina Callan (MHHS); 3. Tori Kacyznski (MHHS)
Junior boys — 1. Toras Brooks (McCoy) 10.06m; 2. Tommy Gordon (McCoy)
Girls intellectual — Cambria Rattai (MHHS) 3.93m
Boys intellectual — 1. Brody Stahl (MHHS) 5.52m; 2. Sam Henderson (MHHS)
4×100 relay
Senior girls — 1. MHHS 57.32
Senior boys — 1. MHHS 47.05
Intermediate girls — 1. MHHS 1:00.84
Intermediate boys — 1. MHHS 56.73
Junior girls — 1. EBHS A 56.96; 2. EBHS B; 3. MHHS
Junior boys — 1. MHHS 48.80
4×400 relay
Open girls — 1. MHHS 4:58.16; 2. EBHS
Open boys — 1. EBHS 4:00.35; 2. MHHS
Mixed — 1. EBHS 4:34.94; 2.; MHHS
Pentathlon
Boys — 1. Brody Brandham (MHHS) 2,278 points