By Larry Moko
Milo Domanski won a junior high school football championship as a running back for the Bishop Ryan Celtics and now he’s out-legging his competitors in track and field.
The Grade 9 student put together a pair of impressive novice boys’ sprint performances at last week’s Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference meet in Hamilton. He took the 200-metre event in 23.66 seconds and finished second in the 100m (11.85).
In addition, that speed carried him to a first-place finish in the long jump (5.70 metres).
The top five placings in each GHAC category of boys and girls novice, junior and senior advance to the South Regional meet May 29 and 30 at Ray Lewis Centre. From that, the top four in each event qualify for the OFSAA championships June 6-8 in London.
“Milo is a great football player and a great athlete,” Bishop Ryan track coach Mike Hall said. “Obviously, he’s very quick.”
As a Grade 8 student at St. James the Apostle last year, Domanski set new CYO records in both the 100m (11.66) and the long jump (5.60).
Recently, he joined the Monte Cristo Track Club.
“He’s well trained and works his butt off,” Hall added. “He could potentially be an athlete for the International Children’s Games this year.”
That competition – for boys and girls 12-15 – is being held in Mexico from July 15-20.
“I grew up playing every sport, but mainly Newman rep basketball,” Domanski said. “I quit basketball two years ago, though, and started playing football (Hamilton Junior Ticats). I have speed in football, so I decided to try track.
“My favourite event is the 100m because it’s so competitive.”
At earlier meets, Domanski came first in the 100m at the Mark Graham Memorial and first again in the 200m at May Madness.
“I do a lot of research to see how my times compare to others,” Domanski said. “I’m aiming to go to OFSAA. It’s going to be tough, but I’m ready for it.”
Thirty-seven schools from Halton and Hamilton Catholic competed in the three-days of GHAC competition this year. And in terms of team points, Bishop Ryan captured the GHAC trophy. Milton’s Bishop Reding was second and Oakville’s St. Thomas Aquinas came third.
Other first-place finishers from the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic Athletic Association were as follows: Samantha Lipinski, Bishop Ryan, SG long jump, 4.93m; Nathan Burke, St. John Henry Newman, SB high jump, 1.79m; Yuvraj Ari, Bishop Ryan, JB high jump, 1.83m; Michelle Anigwe, St. Thomas More, NG shot put, 9.37m; Isabella Zenone, Bishop Ryan, JG discus, 25.09m; Amos Wleh, Cathedral, NB triple jump, 11.25m; Levi Snider, Bishop Ryan, JB discus, 45.79m; Mackenzie Whitehorse, JG shot put, 9.77m; Samantha Lipinski, Bishop Ryan, SG triple jump, 10.79; Emily Were, St. Thomas More, NG discus, 20.47m; Darrius Mullings, Bishop Tonnos, SB triple jump, 13.63m; Anna Ptaszek, St. Mary, JG 3,000m, 10:45.77; Victoria Zolaturiuk, Bishop Tonnos, JG 200m 25.67; Ben Casey, St. Jean de Brébeuf, JB 800m, 2:04.20; Chloe Seiler, Bishop Tonnos, SG 800m, 2:25.59; Anthony Mastrangeli, St. Jean de Brébeuf,, JB 300m hurdles, 44.24; Chloe Seiler, Bishop Tonnos, open G 2,000m steeplechase, 7;36.90; Victoria Zolaturiuk, Bishop Tonnos, JG 100m, 12.54; Ben Casey, St. Jean de Brébeuf,, JB 400, 54.13.
The Bishop Ryan novice boys’ 4x100m relay team also placed first in a GHAC record time of 46.95.
Photos by Bob Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
More photos on the HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page here