Adrianna Buitelaar’s National Record-setting Run at Nike Indoor High School Nationals

I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere and honest admiration for the outstanding performance that Adrianna Buitelaar recorded this morning in New York, at the Nike Indoor High School Nationals.
 
Running against the best competition in Canada and the United States, Adrianna rose to the occasion finishing 5th  in the mile, setting a new Canadian U18 record of 4:45.74!!  This was a five-second personal best performance for Adrianna, who is now THE FASTEST U18-MILER IN CANADIAN HISTORY.
 
I would also like to extend a sincere congratulations to every member of our distance group and our club as performances such as this do not occur in isolation; they are the result of a great team. From our distance athletes and families who support each other each and every day, to our club board members and volunteers who provide leadership and facilitate the structures that allow great training and racing performances to occur – you are all deserving of thanks and recognition.
 
To Adrianna and her family days like this are rare, so take a moment, smile, and say yes, we did it.  – Coach Scott

BC Indoor Track and Field Championship Success in Throws

Valley Royal Throwers 

Lillian, Cash and Derek participated in the first ever BC Indoor Track & field Championships! All earned strong personal bests and awards making their coach very proud. 
 
Lillian started shot putting just over a month ago and earned silver with a 8.82m throw. She started hammer throw last season and wanted to try weight throw…She landed a solid 9m throw and a second silver!!
 
Cash learned how to do a weight throw turn during warm up! He started with a 5.47m throw and finished with a solid 8.39 m throw and bronze medal! 
Cash had a goal of 7 m in shot put and did not disappoint with a solid 6.99m throw, placing fourth in a very tough field! 
 
Derek was very focused and had three throws over 10m in shot put, with his best being 10.75 placing him in 2nd!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Great work. We are all very excited for the outdoor season!  – Coach Debbie
 

Power and Speed Group

Great job by Valley Royals athletes this past weekend at the BC Athletics Indoor Championships in Kamloops. Though still very early in our competitive season, it didn’t stop our Royals athletes from producing numerous personal bests capturing several medals in the process. Well done to all competitors. Highlights are as follows (every performance listed is a personal best):

Keigo Hayama

  • 5th 60meters 7.56
  • 4th 200 meters 24.71

Cassius Armistead

  • 1st Triple Jump 9.01m
  • 60m – 8.86 (PB)

Will Van Schagen:

  • 2nd 60meter hurdles: 9.46
  • 2nd 400metrers: 52.36

Luke Wight:

  • 1st Long Jump 6.42meters
  • 7th 60meters: 7.63

Penelope Hofs

  • 3rd Long Jump: 4.54meters
  • 7th 60meters: 8.83
  • 6th 200: 29.40

West Coast Indoor Championships – International Success for Valley Royals

Our Valley Royals Distance crew had a great time in Spokane Washington this past weekend at the West Coast Indoor Championships. For many of our crew it was the first time facing international competition, in the US, and performing in front of  thousands of spectators. Our runners represented us proudly against the best competition in the Pacific Northwest and really rose to the occasion.
 
A big congratulations goes out to all our families who made the drive and supported their athletes to some amazing performances and  made this trip happen. Well done – Coach Scott
 
Results – Valley Royals Distance
  1. Sam Rasquinha –  81st 3000m(10:19.70) 126th Mile(5:30.03)
  2. Arie Wassenaar –  83rd 3000m(10:2557) 111th  Mile(5:16.37)
  3. Adrianna Buitelaar – West Coast Champion 3000m and Mile (9:46.15) (5:00.48)
  4. Maggie Epp – 15th 800m (2:20.73)
  5. Parks Siemens – 60th 3000m(9:40.14) 74th Mile (4:53.79)
  6. Jonah Dyck – 80th 3000m(10:17.58) 100th Mile (5:04.80)
  7. Arata Nakanishi – 36th 3000m(9:07.55) 44th Mile(4:39.64)
  8. Sam May – 17th 3000m(8:53.98) 6th Invitational Mile(4:21.32)
  9. Santos  Svelander – 110th 400m(57.90) 112th 200m(25.14)
  10. William Steiger – 85th 3000m(10:29.30) 118th Mile(5:22.76)
  11. Gurpartap Sandhu – 82nd 400m(1:14.90) 19th Triple Jump(10.06m) 22nd 60m Hurdles(10.21)
  12. Lucy Orr – 18th 3000m(11:12.30) 34th Mile(5:40.51)
  13. Miles Graham – 16th 3000m(8:53.29) 6th Open Mile (4:25.81)
  14. Riley Simmonds – 14th Invitational 3000m(8:52.40) 7th Invitational Mile (4:22.90)
  15. Laken Olson -62nd 3000m(9:42.27) 93rd Mile (5:01.49),

Celebrating Dawn Driver’s Sports BC President’s Award

Valley Royals is so incredibly proud of our dedicated volunteer Dawn Driver for winning Sport BC’s 2025 President’s Award for BC Athletics!! She contributes so much to Valley Royals, allowing us deliver quality training and events for our athletes.

In Sport BC’s words:

Sport BC recognizes the importance of volunteers in sport. The significant role volunteers play in the sport sector is celebrated through Sport BC’s Presidents’ Awards. The Presidents’ Awards presented by Sports With Balls are given to volunteers from Sport BC member and partner organizations who demonstrate the spirit of volunteerism through the dedication, commitment, and tireless energy they give to their sport organizations. The 38 recipients will be celebrated during Sport BC’s 57th Athlete of the Year Awards taking place on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Congratulations to the 2025 Presidents’ Awards Recipients, thank you for all you do for sport in British Columbia.

PBs and Amazing Season Openers at Univesity of Washington Meet

A big congratulations to our Valley Royals distance athletes who competed in this past weekend’s Meet of Miles at the Dempsey Indoor facility at the University of Washington.

Miles Graham, Laken Olson, Parks Siemens, Arata Nakanishi, Sam May and Maggie Epp ran strongly in their season opener, running very close to their personal bests. Adrianna Buitelaar ran a great personal best of 4:50.98 for the mile, which places her at the top of the Canadian U18 rankings. Additionally, Riley Simmonds ran a fantastic personal best of 4:14.50 for the mile, which is two seconds under the present Canadian U18 indoor record.

 Go Royals – Coach Scott