The Airdrie Aces Athletics Club finished its season over the weekend (August 11-13) at the Legion Canadian Youth Track and Field Championships in Brandon, Manitoba, and coach Jodie Matsuba-Szucs was more than pleased with her athletes.

"Everybody performed well. Everybody was top ten or better in Canada. That's pretty awesome."

 Princess Roberts represented Team Alberta at the meet, and was the only Ace to bring home a medal.

"Sunday was by far Princess's best day. She was able to win the bronze medal in the Youth Women's 200 meter sprint."

In the 200 meter finals, Roberts' time of 25.32 was good enough to get her on the podium. Earlier in the weekend, Roberts finished fifth in the 100 meter sprint. Unfortunately, as part of the 4x100 meter relay team, Roberts was disqualified after the team had a bad baton exchange.

Aiden Good, Jasmine Szucs and Jinaye Shomachuk were also at the meet as open competitors, representing the club instead of the province. They also had good showings.

"For them to finish with personal bests performances at Nationals, that's just icing on the cake," said Matsuba-Szucs

Good broke his personal best in the 1200 meter run with a time of 3:19.75, putting him tenth. He also finished ninth in the 1500 meter steeple chase.

Szucs finished ninth in a dramatic performance of her preferred event, the long jump. After committing fouls in her first two attempts, she achieved a personal best 4.88 meter jump in her third try. Matsuba-Szucs credited Szucs' cool composure and winning attitude for the great performance.

Shomachuk finished fourth in the hammer throw and eighth in the discus. She also shattered the Alberta provincial record in the shot put with an 11.30 meter throw on her way to placing seventh.

 

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