Heather Wright/The Independent

The future of track and field at LCCVI is in good hands after three members of the Novice Girls’ Team placed second overall at the provincial championship.

Kallee Elliott, Rayah Minten and Jaylen Helps scored 30 points with their four medals, just one point behind Scholard Hall from North Bay for the Novice Girls Team championship.

Track and Field Coach Joel Campbell praised the athletes saying it has been decades since a LCCVI team did so well in the team standings.

“You’re doing it against the best …in the entire province of Ontario, and the fact that you guys were second overall in your division for every high school in Ontario as three athletes earning 30 points, it’s an incredible achievement.”

Minten, from Watford, was the first to hit the podium Thursday. She had to pull out one of her best throws to earn silver in shot put. Helps won her first bronze Friday in javelin with brother, Jack, looking on. He’d placed fourth in the senior event at OFSAA last year.

Elliott, from Camlachie, clinched gold on Friday as well.

Minten says watching her teammates win was exciting.

“Once I got my first medal, and then she won hers, we started realizing we could, like, possibly win the Novice Girls,” she said. Saturday,

Helps won bronze in discus, bringing the team to 30 points in the standings.

“Then we were one point off, so that was really cool.”

Campbell says the athletes all improved through the year, listening to coaches advice as they won their way to the provincial championship. And he says they showed grit and determination at OFSAA

“All of them are gamers, and we cannot wait to see them compete next year. … the coaches couldn’t be more proud. Can’t wait to have you back next year.”