Dotted with Bay of Quinte and Central Ontario Championships along the way, the track and field season at PECI came to an end Thursday.

Grade 10 runner Rowan Colby (54.03) was the last Panther on the prowl and wound up finishing in the top 20 in the All Ontario junior boys 400 m event at Terry Fox Stadium.

Grade 10’s Rowan Colby was 4th in the junior boys 400 m at the East Regionals in Ottawa last weekend. (Submitted Photo)

“It’s an incredible accomplishment from an athlete who will be exciting to watch over the next two years of high school,” PECI track and field coach Laurie Spencer told the Gazette. “Rowan has trained and worked hard this spring, so to compete at the highest stage in Ontario is a huge honour.”

Rowan Colby posted a personal best 53.15 at East Regionals also in Ottawa June 1 and 2 to claim fourth.

PECI came within centimetres of qualifying an additional pair of athletes at East Regionals who would have joined Colby in Ottawa June 8-10.

With a leap of 170 cm, novice jumper Emerson Blakley was was a centimetre from claiming fourth place and an outright clinching position in the high jump but lost his spot due to a tie and having faulted once more than his closest competitor.

“It was so hard to see Emerson lose that spot due to a tie break scenario,” Spencer said.

Meanwhile, junior girls thrower Drew Spencer came fifth (10.15 m) in the shot put competition, missing fourth place by two cm and a bronze medal by 4 cm.

Junior boys distance runner Josh McGill turned in personal bests at the East Regionals in the 800 m (2:09.68) and 1500 m (4:36.08), placing 6th and 10th, respectively.

Rounding out the field, Will Theakston placed 11th in the Junior Boys 200 m and Chase Colby had a personal best 170 cm while finishing 11th in the Senior Boys High Jump.

Senior boys javelin thrower Riley Grimmon gutted out a shoulder injury to place 13th in that event.

“Despite being injured, he was able to round out his secondary school track and field career with an appearance at East Regionals which is a great accomplishment,” Spencer said, adding all local student athletes are to be commended on their efforts during the heat wave conditions in Ottawa.

“The PECI athletes were fantastic representatives during competitions and during their two days in Ottawa,” the coach said.