Voices June 06, 2023
Catholic school track meet still creating memories after 54 years
By John Banovich
I had the opportunity to drop by and shoot some photos recently at the Knights of Columbus Catholic school track meet in Langley. The annual meet draws students from Catholic elementary schools across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, just as it has for decades.
The annual meet at McLeod Athletic Park Stadium draws students from elementary schools across the Archdiocese of Vancouver, including Our Lady of Good Counsel in Surrey, Cloverdale Catholic, St. Mary’s in Chilliwack, St. James and St Ann’s in Abbotsford, St. Catherine’s in Langley, Sacred Heart in Delta, St. Bernadette in Surrey, Star of the Sea in Surrey, and Immaculate Conception.
Gina Williams, Denae Daniel-Pemberton, Hanna Kirchner, Frankie Angeles, and Aurea Abaland of
Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary competing at the Catholic school track meet in Langley.Every year hundreds of students take part in competition, and they’ve been doing it for 54 years.
Just being there at McLeod Stadium amid the student athletes took me back to my childhood, when the event would take place at Bear Creek Park in Surrey.
I wasn’t the only one who had fond memories of taking in the competition as a child. Cloverdale Catholic coach Matthew Klaponski still remembers participating in the track meet when he was in Grade 5 and receiving a ribbon for his performance in the 800-metre event.
Klaponski is now a member of Knights of Columbus Council 7276, whose members provide the resources to put on this special day, with volunteers coming from many of the participating schools and parishes.
To this day the annual meet remains an exciting event that brings parish and school communities together for friendly competition and support of one another in fellowship, with students and coaches celebrating God’s gifts through athletics, hard work, and charity.