Tessa Bell was one of the local standouts for the central island at the BC Games in Maple Ridge. The Nanaimo teen won a gold, silver and bronze medal in her track and field events. (Grace Bell)

By Dan Marshall

Golden Moments

Mid Island athletes boast podium finishes at BC Summer Games

Jul 24, 2024 | 9:36 AM

NANAIMO — Central Island athletes helped lead Zone 6 to the highest medal count at the BC Summer Games in Maple Ridge.

Zone 6 encompasses all of Vancouver Island and the central coast of the province with the team winning 154 medals, 11 more than any other group, including 42 gold, 62 silver and 50 bronze.

Several individuals had strong performances between July 17 to 21, including Nanaimo’s Tessa Bell.

Just one week after winning two gold medals at the BC Athletics Track and Field Jamboree, Bell won gold in girls triple jump, silver in the 80 metre hurdles and bronze in long jump.

“BC Summer Games was an amazing experience,” Bell said. “I broke three of my personal records and ended up with three podium finishes. Off the track was so much fun. It was awesome making new friends and reconnecting with friends from other zones. The Games are an experience that I will never forget”

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Samantha Manlow earned gold in both her K-1 Canoe/Kayak 500 metre and 200 metre races.

She also took a bronze medal in the C-1 2000 metre.

Norah Box took the bronze in the K-1 500 and 200 events, while Manlow and Box teamed up to get silver in K-2 1000 metre race.

Taylor McGee had a major medal haul with silver medals in the special olympics category for the 200 metre, long jump and shot put events and a bronze in the 100 metre.

She was also part of the silver medal winning mixed 4×100 metre relay team.

Lornita Phillips earned three special olympic medals with a gold in the 50 metre freestyle, silver in the 100 metre freestyle swim and bronze medal as part of the mixed 4×50 metre relay team.

Another multiple medal winner was Elsa Romanik with second place finishes in the sprint triathlon and duathlon and a third place result in F1 triathlon.

Gold medals also went to Cameron Catton-Cox for rowing, Danaea Brand as part of the 4×100 metre girls relay and Carter Cunning for his 4×100 metre boys relay performance.

Other silver medalists were Megan James in steeplechase Mason Miller for hammer throw, Laura McKenzie in rowing, Alyssa Gaudet for equestrian vaulting and Shayne Blandin in both special olympics 50 metre butterfly and 200 metre freestyle.

Megan James and Oliver Sinclair were also part of a silver medal winning mixed 4×400 metre relay team.

Nanaimo and area competitors also made their mark in team competition.

Several members of the Mid Island Pirates were part of the Zone 6 championship baseball team at the Summer Games.

Ladysmith’s Lina Chay was a part of the gold medal winning ultimate frisbee team, while there were local silver medalists in boys basketball and girls rugby.

Bronze medals in the team category were earned in mixed box lacrosse and mixed artistic swimming.

Zone 6 has now the highest overall medal count four consecutive BC Summer Games.

The next Summer Games will be hosted in Kelowna in 2026.

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