Sir Frederick Banting S.S. wins provincial track and field title
For the third consecutive year, Sir Frederick Banting S.S. has won the provincial boys overall track and field title.
With four individual gold medals at OFSAA this week, they accumulated enough points to capture the championship.
Jackson MacKay won three (pole vault, long jump and 110 m hurdles) and Finne O'Leary won the Junior boys shot put.
Banting head coach Todd MacKay says it takes a lot of commitment from the entire team to win a title.
'We practice off site a lot, so it's not quite as convenient as walking out to the track and practicing,' says MacKay.
'We've got to commit to taking the bus to Western and training and then getting themselves home. For them to bear down and be able to do that, that's a real accomplishment.'
His son, Jackson, was the star of the meet bringing home the three individual gold medals.
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Jackson MacKay (right) poses for a photo with his father and coach Todd MacKay after winning 3 gold medals at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships in Toronto on June 7, 2025. (Source: Todd MacKay)
He entered first in the long jump and 110 m hurdles and third in pole vault.
'He put a lot of pressure on himself to perform,' says MacKay.
'After he won the first two events, he wanted that last gold in the pole vault. He ended up beating a number of pole vault specialists, and I think that's what he's most proud about is the fact that he's a multi athlete and he was able to beat guys that are completely dedicated to the individual event.'
MacKay says the atmosphere at the pole vault event was amazing. After Jackson jumped a person best 4.6 metres, he went for the OFSAA record.
'He'd never even come close to vaulting at that height, but he literally was over the bar,' says MacKay.
'Having not jumped that high before, it just it kind of changes a little bit. A few things like the depth and the length of the pole and the flex of the pole. He was literally high enough over the bar on two of the attempts, and that just couldn't get the right angle to land it.'
Jenna Tunks of Oakridge S.S. lived up to the billing dominating the Junior Girls Discus (48.11 metres) and Shot Put (15.53 metres) bringing home a pair of gold medals.
Noah Mitoraj of St. Thomas Aquinas won the Senior Boys Discus (52.37 metres).
With a team title, and seven individual gold medals, MacKay credits London's dedicated coaching community and resources at the schools.
'The sport has never been more popular which is evidenced by the number of athletes we have at our TVRA championships,' says MacKay.
'It's the largest regional championship in the province and our numbers are so good that for the first time in the history of TVRA, we had to implement standards in order to try and control the numbers of participants'.
With this much talent and success, including Olympic athletes it may be time for the City of London to look at upgrading the track and field facilities.
'It's really popular and we have a lot of talent in the area with good coaches, so let's provide them with good facilities,' says MacKay.
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