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This article was originally written by Streamline Athletes.
Don’t get us wrong, every Canadian province has impressive high school track and field records on both the men’s and women’s sides. But since Streamline Athletes was founded in BC, with a large chunk of our employees attached to BC Athletics throughout high school, we never experienced the intriguing lore of OFSAA growing up. We were keen to dive into their senior provincial records to find which ones are – objectively – the best.
We pulled up the OFSAA record book and referenced World Athletics scoring to determine which performances are most likely to stand the test of time.
Here we go.
The top five senior girls and top senior boys OFSAA track and field records in history…
Top Five Senior Boys Records in OFSAA History
5. 110m hurdles – 13.33 – Gregory MacNeill – Mother Theresa CSS, London (2010)
A decade ago, Gregory MacNeill ran a blistering time of 13.33 in the 110 hurdles: a mark that paved the way for MacNeill’s collegiate track and field career with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in between brief stints with the Wisconsin Badgers and Guelph Gryphons.
While there’s an argument to be made that MacNeill’s 2010 record maybe shouldn’t count since the hurdle height was 0.914m (compared to the old OFSAA height of 0.991 and the pro height of 1.067), it still deserves a spot in the top five on the boys side.
In addition to success at the collegiate level, MacNeill also represented Canada at several championships, although injury prevented him from competing on the Olympic stage. Here he is five years ago speaking about his training, teammates, coaches, the facilities at the U of T, and trying to make Team Canada’s Olympic roster.
4. 800m – 1:48.26 – Andrew Heaney – Cardinal Newman CSS, Toronto (2007)
In 2007, Andrew Heaney dropped a wicked 1:48.26 in the OFSAA 800 metre final – and he did it essentially solo. From line to line, Heaney cruised out front to snag the all-time best mark by an Ontario high schooler.
Heaney opted to stay in Ontario for his university career, running for the York Lions.
Also, a fun fact: Heaney’s time just broke the previous 800m record of 1:48.64 by Kevin Sullivan, who
went on to become a three-time Olympian and is now coaching at Michigan.
3. High jump – 2.24m – Michael Ponikvar – Denis Morris HS, St. Catharines (1998)
Also holding the Canadian record, Michael Ponikvar’s 2.24m OFSAA high jump record set in 1998 doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. We Googled this guy and holy smokes did he ever have a high school career. As per his Wikipedia page:
- Four-time OFSAA Champion
- Two-time Canadian Junior National Champion
- OFSAA midget, junior, and senior boys high jump record holder
- Gold medal at the ‘97 Pan Am Junior Championships
- 1998 top-ranked high schooler in the world
After high school, Ponikvar had an outstanding collegiate and professional career as well. Representing Stanford, he won the PAC-10 Championship three times and was also a three-time NCAA All-American. Despite hitting Olympic qualifying marks more than once, Ponikvar’s career was sadly cut short due to injury and he was never able to compete at the Olympic Games.
2. 400m – 45.71 – Myles Misener-Daley – Westdale SS, Hamilton (2019)
This is ridiculous. And recent.
Just last year, Myles Misener-Daley of Westdale Secondary School beat Shane Niemi’s Canadian U20 record of 45.83.
Misener-Daley has the potential to crack the Team Canada roster for Tokyo 2021 and to become one of the country’s best performers by 2024. After all, it’s been a while since we’ve seen a Canadian international contender in the 400-metre event.
This video gives a bit more backstory to Misener-Daley’s pre-race mindset.
Heck, maybe Tyler Christopher’s (who rocked a full-body speed suit complete with a skin-tight hood before they were banned) 400-metre national record of 44.44 is in danger in the next few years…
1. 3000m – 8:00.2 – Greg Andersen – Parkside HS (1987)
Imagine running eight minutes flat for three kilometres. Crazy. Now imagine doing it in high school! Crazier.
Greg Andersen ended his high school career as a Grade 13 with an incredible 8:00.2 in the senior boys 3000 metres event at the 1987 OFSAA Championships, closing the final two laps in right about two minutes flat.
We were somehow able to find a ridiculously high-quality video (considering this was 33 years ago) of the record-breaking race.
However, we weren’t able to find much else about Andersen’s career. According to some message boards (take this with a grain of salt), he ended up at Dartmouth, had a decent collegiate career, but may have suffered from injury and/or overtraining along the way.
Nonetheless, Andersen’s 1987 8-flat takes the cake here as the best boys OFSAA performance of all time.
Top Five Senior Girls Records in OFSAA History
5. Shot put (4kg) – 16m – Trinity Tutti – Eastdale SS – Welland (2018)
Trinity Tutti is a rising track and field star. In high school, she set 6 provincial records in the shot put, discus and javelin. Even more spectacular, her throw of 16 meters is the provincial high school all-time best mark and was set in her grade 11 year!
In 2019 she competed at the Canadian Track and Field Championships and the USATF Powerfest, where she set the U20 Canadian record for discus (56.95m) and shot put (17.24m) respectively. Her shot put throw ranks her 2nd in the world among U20 athletes. Check out her incredible throw here.
Trinity Tutti has impressed the track and field world and could potentially crack the Canadian Olympic team for Tokyo2021. If not, it is safe to say that she will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
4. High jump – 1.84m – Julie White – Brampton Centennial SS – Brampton (1975)
Julie White currently holds the longest active Ontario provincial record of 45 years. Set in 1975, her mark of 1.84m is insane! To put it in perspective, this mark would have placed 12th in the 1996 Olympics. There is no doubt in our minds that this record will stay for many years to come.
When attending college she branched out to different events, competing in the 55m hurdles, long jump, and even the 1600-meter relay. She set records and became Boston University’s first female athlete to earn All-American honours.
However, Julie only competed in the 1976 Olympics where she placed 6th despite being only 16 years old.
3. 100m – 11.77 sec – Christian Brennan - St. Mary CSS – Hamilton – (2011)
Imagine the thrill of competing at the provincial championships and not only taking home the gold but breaking the provincial record as well. It’s exhilarating! Now imagine doing that 3 times in the same year. In 2011 Christian Brennan set 3 junior provincial records in the 100m, 200m and 400m races. Crazy!
Christian had a decent collegiate career. She is a 2 time All-American athlete, competed for both Oregon and LSU and competed in 2 Canadian National Track and Field Championships, where she has placed both 3rd and 5th. So far she has not lived up to her Olympic potential, never competing in the games. However, she is only 25 years old and could make the 2021 Olympic team.
2. 100m Hurdles – 13.33 sec – Keira-Christie-Galloway – St. Matthew HS – Orleans – (2016)
Keira-Christie-Galloway finished her high school career with 6 medals at the Provincial High School Track & Field Championships. Her record of 13.33 seconds beat the 18-year-old record of 13.41 set in 1998 by Perdita Felicien.
This hurdle superstar has continued her success post-high school graduation. She has earned All-American honours while at Iowa State, broken the U18 and U20 Canadian record in the 100m hurdles and has represented the red and white in 2 Global Championships and the Pan Am Games.
Check out this video where she storms ahead of her competitors.
Keira is only 20 years old and is only improving. She has transferred to Arizona State University and is preparing to nab a spot at next year’s Olympic Games. We can’t wait to see her compete!
1. 200m Dash – 23.69 sec – Khamica Bingham – Heart Lake SS – Brampton – (2012)
In 2012, Khamica’s electric race set a new provincial record (23.69 sec) and kick-started her career. She’s had and continues to have one impressive career:
- Olympic Games: 2016 – 25th (100m), 6th (4x100m relay)
- Pan American Games: 2015 – 6th (100m), BRONZE (4x100m relay)
- Commonwealth Games: 2014 –7th (100m), 4th (4x100m relay)
- IAAF World Championships: 2015 – 26th (100m), 17th (200m), 6th (4x100m relay); 2013 – 6th (4x100m relay)
- IAAF World Championships (Junior): 2012 – 4th (100m)
- Pan American Championships (Junior): 2013 – 6th (100m), SILVER (4x100m relay)
- IAAF World Championships (Youth): 2011 – 5th (100m), 3rd in SF (200m)
In 2014, Khamica was the only female or male athlete to qualify for the 100m in the 2014 Commonwealth Games despite just recovering from a stomach virus. At the 2016 Olympic Games, she missed out on the 100m semifinals by just one place. However, she was a part of the Canadian 4X100m relay team which finished 6th (this was the first Canadians finals appearance since 1984).
Check out the historic run here.
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