Riversdale Athletics Club

Congrats to SSSAD for another Track & Field City Championships.
Riversdale athletes made their marks with 16 gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze medals, as well as many great efforts and performances.

Intermediate boys
Ryder Germain - gold 800m & 1500m, silver 3000m
Cohen McKechney - gold 3000m, silver 1500m

Intermediate Girls
Hudson Delaire - gold 200m, bronze 400m
Toni Akintade - gold LJ & 100m, silver TJ, bronze 200m
Stacy Esemuru - gold 80mH
Lexi Bantle - silver Tetra
Kate Lawton - silver 400m

Junior Boys
Adam Gallays - gold shot put & discus
Liam Kornelsen - silver 3000m, bronze    1500m
Jordan Heal - bronze Javelin & 100mH

Junior Girls
Iyanu Ketiku - silver LJ, bronze 80mH

Senior Boys
Will Sawchuk - gold 1500m & 3000m, silver 800m
Jayden Rings - gold 400m, bronze 100mH & 200m

Senior Girls
Naysa Woods - gold 400m, 800m, 1500m, silver 200m
Bella Vasonez - gold 3000m, silver 1500m
Jersey Lange - silver 400m & 800m, bronze 1500m & 3000m
Lauren Russell - silver 3000m

As today is the beginning of the outdoor season here in Saskatoon with our first high school mini meet of the season, RIVERSDALE would like to introduce you to this month’s Profiled Athlete.

Hi! My name is Stacy Esemuru and I am a Grade 9 student at St. Joe’s High School.

A big pb I had in the 60mh last season was at the Saskatoon Indoor Games and I ran a 9.87 and at the K of C meet, I got a pb of 8.60 in the 60m.

My goal for the 2026 season is to qualify for outdoor nationals, get a pb in the 80mh (13.10-12.90), and run the 200mh as well.

My experience with joining Riversdale has been great - one of the best choices I’ve made. The coaches have taught me to push myself and they give me great constructive feedback . The sportsmanship and team encouragement amoungst RIVA athletes is like no other.

Outside of track, I love hanging out with friends listening to music reading and making bracelets during the summer.

Good luck in your race tonight, Stacy! We can’t to watch you shine in this outdoor season ☀️

That’s a wrap on indoor season! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Huge congratulations to all of our athletes who competed in their final indoor meet last weekend at the Saskatoon Indoor Games here in Saskatoon. So much hard work went into this indoor season, and it showed with the incredible number of personal bests achieved along the way for all athletes. Congratulations on a strong indoor season!

Now it’s time to take all that hard work outside… outdoor season, we’re ready for you! ☀️

Spikes are coming out and new goals are on the horizon. We can’t wait to be back out in the sunshine, watching our athletes push themselves and achieve great results.

📸 thanks .photography for taking amazing photos this season

Riversdale had a great team trip to Edmonton for Alberta’s Age Class Provincial Championships this past weekend. Many athletes shattered their PB’s and many achieved medals:

Hannah Karst-Giesbrecht - bronze U14 girls 600m
Simon Leis - silver U14 boys shot put
Hudson Delaire - bronze U16 women 300m
Stacy Esemuru - gold U16 women 60 hurdles
Claire Holman - bronze U16 girls high jump
Jaxon Ness- gold U16 men high jump and triple jump
Adam Gallays - gold U18 men shot put
Jayden Rings - gold U18 men hurdles; silver in 300m
Naysa Woods - silver U20 women 1000m and 600m
Will Sawchuk - bronze U20 men 1000m
Simon Granger - silver U20 men hurdles and pole vault; bronze in shot put and high jump
Sandi Arnason - gold Master women hurdles, shot put, pole vault, long jump
Val Hardy - gold Masters women 60m and 200m
Rhonda Tremblay - gold Master women 200m
Dan Holman - gold Master men high jump
Coach Chris Schneider - silver Master men long jump

📸.photography

RIVA’s next profiled athlete is Jayden Rings. Jayden is a Grade 11 student at Centennial Collegiate and has been with Riversdale since January of 2025.

Jayden’s top performances over his past seasons were a 37.48 in the 300m at the 2026 Sanderson Classic which improved on his personal best by 3 seconds; a 53.23 in the 400m at the Running Wild Last Chance meet in August of 2025; and in Winnipeg, Jayden ran a 1:01.70 in the 400m Hurdles for the 2025 season.

Jayden’s goals for the 2026 season are to run sub-51 in the 400m and a sub-57 in the 400m hurdles in the outdoor season. He is also working towards qualifying for Outdoor Nationals this summer.

Since joining Riversdale, Jayden has appreciated how the coaches are able to support athletes based on individual needs and pushing them to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. As well, Jayden values the strong sense of community within the club.

Outside of track Jayden enjoys photography and competes for his high school’s football team in the fall.

Good luck in the rest of the indoor season, Jayden! Looking forward to cheering for you at the outdoor track soon!

📸

💥DUEL MEET POST💥

Congratulations to all RIVA athletes who competed in out-of-town events this past weekend. So many personal bests were achieved - well done to all athletes!

A shout out to those who medaled:
Regina Indoor Games
Norah Yeung - silver U14 girls 800m Presley Dean - bronze U16 girls Triple Jump
Connor Mckeckney - gold U16 boys 200m, silver U16 boys 1200m
Ryder Germain - silver U18 boys 800m
Casey Lewins - silver U20 women Shot Put, bronze U20 women 200m
Sandi Arnason - gold Masters women Pole Vault, Hurdles, Long Jump, Shot Put

Panda Open @ Edmonton
Naysa Woods - gold University women 600m
Julia Milnthorp - silver U18 women 1000m

📸

Riversdale had outstanding representation and athlete performances at the Knights of Columbus Games Athletes this past weekend. Our athletes achieved many exciting personal bests and 25 medals were won both on the track and at various field events by our Jr Development athletes through to our Masters athletes. Medals were awarded to:
Ryder Germain - Gold U18 men 800m
Jaxon Ness - Gold U16 boys High Jump
Toni Akintade - Gold U18 women Long Jump and Silver in the 60m
Val Hardy - Gold Master women 60m
Rob Woods - Gold Master men 400m
Rhonda Tremblay - Silver Master women 400m
Cohen Mckechney - Silver U16 boys 1200m and Bronze in the 800m
Lily Holman - Silver U18 women 1500m and Bronze in the 800m
Hudson Delaire - Silver U16 girls 200m
Norah Yeung - Silver U14 girls 60m and Bronze in the 800m
Hannah Karst Giesbrecht - silver U14 girls 800m
Cody Germain - silver U14 boys 60mH
Julia Johnson - silver U14 girls High Jump
Adam Gallays - silver U18 men Shot Put
Simon Leis - silver U14 boys Shot Put
Isaac Granger - bronze U14 boys Shot Put
Peter Magnin - bronze U14 boys High Jump
Julia Bautz - bronze U14 girls Shot Put
Naysa Woods - bronze Sr women 800m
Grayson Goodkey - bronze U14 boys 60mH
Stacy Esemuru - bronze U16 girls 60mH

Thank you Knights of Columbus for hosting!

Riversdale had over 40 athletes competing from U12 to Masters at the 2026 Sanderson Classic this past weekend. Our athletes had outstanding medal performances and many personal bests. Fantastic efforts, RIVA❤️ ❤️

Riversdale had over 40 athletes competing from U12 to Masters at the 2026 Sanderson Classic this past weekend. Our athletes had outstanding medal performances and many personal bests.
Fantastic effort, RIVA❤️ ❤️

Our last profiled athlete for 2025 is Gwyneth Woodson, one of RIVA’s amazing master athletes. Gwyn joined Riversdale in September 2024 after talking to Valerie and Muriel about Riversdale and all the club had to offer masters athletes.

In Gwynn’s words:
“I started running in my late 20s while studying Pharmacy at UBC. I met some inspiring runners who included me in their group. I ran my first marathon at age 30, my first triathlon at age 40 and my first track race at age 50.

“I’m motivated by the athletes, the athletic culture, the camaraderie, the sportsmanship and the challenge to race to my potential. My goal for 2026 is to stay injury free and prepare for the 2026 outdoor season when I enter a new age category F75+; and continue to enjoy training with my club.

One of my favourite memories was racing in Riccone at World Masters T&F at age 55 in the 10 000m. I outsprinted the German girl in the last 100m to take silver. It was the cheering Canadians who let me know I was second.

I love Riversdale because it’s family. RossAnn is the most caring and knowledgeable coach I have met. The “kids” in the club are terrific. They are supportive and cheer for me and I love to watch them progress through to when they move on to University.”

Gwyn had much success in 2025:
- Bob Adams Female Masters Athlete of the year award
- Canadian record in 3000m outdoor F70+
- Sask indoor record 500 m F70+
- Sask indoor record 800m F70+
- Bronze medal at Canadian National XC F70+
- Silver medal at National outdoor 800m F70+

Gwyn was also the Bob Adams Female Masters Athlete of the Year in 2023 and set the Canadian record indoor 3000m F70+.

Gwyn is a true example of what it means to lead with heart 🤍—gentle in spirit, kind in action, always encouraging, and quietly humble. Our younger athletes are better simply because they get to learn beside her. The track community is lucky to have an amazing mentor like you, Gwyn! Looking forward to cheering for you in 2026!

Eleven Riversdale athletes competed in AC Cross Country Nationals in London, ON this past weekend. Great results in challenging weather!

U16 men
Ryder Germain - 30/144
Cohen Mckechney - 61/144
Liam Kornelsen - 86/144

U18 women
Naysa Woods -69/155
Jersey Lange - 78/155
Bella Vasconez - 89/155
Lily Holman - 102/155
Riel Shakotko - 142/155

U18 men
Will Sawchuk- 142/206

45-49
Rob Woods
10/16

70-74
Gwynn Woodson bronze medal

Mixed Relay U18
Will, Jersey, Ryder, Naysa 24/57
Cohen, Bella, Liam, Lily 37/57

Well done everyone!!