By Larry Moko
Two Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school track stars helped kick off the Hamilton Olympic Club's 100th anniversary celebrations.
Anna Ptaszek, of St. Mary, and Victoria Zolaturiuk, of Bishop Tonnos, each captured a pair of medals at the 2026 OFSAA track and field championships in St. Catharines last week. Both are members of the HOC -- the oldest track organization in Canada.
This September 19th, the Hamilton club will have a gala dinner event to recognize the century mark at Michelangelo Banquet Centre.
"I can't be there (at the gala) because I'll be in the States," said Ptaszek, who starts her NCAA Division I athletic scholarship at University of Arizona this fall.
Ptaszek called the medal wins by HOC participants at this year's provincial high school competition "special."
"The HOC has always been amazing," she said. "I couldn't have got where I am without them. I'm super grateful."
Zolaturiuk, who has accepted a track scholarship offer from London's Western University, raced to a silver medal in the senior girls' 200m at OFSAA. Her time was 23.82 seconds.
In addition, she earned a bronze in the 100m dash (11.58).
Those were her first-ever medals at OFSAA.
As for Ptaszek, she won a pair of bronze medals.
"It's exciting," Ptaszek said of the first two provincial high school track medals of her career (to go along with an OFSAA bronze in senior girls' cross-country). "I went in not really expecting that."
Her time in the 3000m was a personal best 9 minutes, 45.22 seconds. And for the 1500, she crossed the finish line in 4:34.69
"I kind of stayed with the chase pack for the first half of the 3000 race," Ptaszek said. "From there, I decided to go for it. I was feeling good. I took the third position from around half way and held on to the end.
"I was really happy with the time."
Her other middle distance event -- the 1500 final -- started the previous day. She said: "We kind of went out slower than the typical pace. So I knew I would have a lot of energy left in my legs. Once we hit that bell lap I went for it. I knew I had a shot."
Ptaszek plans to compete at the Canadian nationals in Ottawa later this month. She is the daughter of McMaster University head football coach, Stefan Ptaszek.
"My dad has been great," she said. "He's one of my biggest supporters. He drives me to every meet. I don't think he's missed an OFSAA yet."
The other OFSAA medal for Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic entrants was in the novice girls' 4x100m relay. That's where More's Gabrielle Ajagunmo, Danielle Charters, Penelope Dodds and Evangeline Sullivan won silver.
More's time was 50.29 seconds --- its fastest of the season and a school record.
"We crushed an 11-year record at the GHAC meet and just kept improving all season," More coach Tania Grahn said.
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
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