The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

BY MIKE HAYAKAWA Staff Writer Natalie Geiger was elated to win her fourth consecutive York Region Athletic Association 400 metre title at Tuesday’s regional outdoor track and field cham- pionships at York University. lfshe wants to make a return appearâ€" ance at the World Junior "hack and Field Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland fmm July 8 to 13, she must meet a stan- dard time of 55.24. The 17â€"year-old Grade 12 Stouflville District Secondary School student was surprised she eclipsed the regional record with her time of 55.57 seconds. She's confident she’ll do that by the lune deadline. She’ll get a chance at the Central Regional high sshool champiâ€" onships May 29 and 30 back at York A tbp-fout finish there qualifies her for the Ontario final in Hamilton June 5 to 7. “It’s still early in the year. This was just the first preparation meet for OFSAA," she said. “I just want to train well and improve my times. But I hope to make it next week (at the Central Regionals) 12 wm-mlmmum Geiger, who moved to the University of Toronto Track and Field Club after Geiger sweeps Yorks en route to Notre Dame Still, Geiger knows her timing requires We have :1 L'LELLLLe 545m - 00wa 6mm Port Perry, ON 0 905-985-4888 0 1-888-29-"580" her coach, Bill Gairdner, retired, said her ultimate goal this year is to run the 400m in the low-to-mid 53â€"second mark at the World Juniors. Intending to run the 100m at the Central Regionals, Geiger will likely drop it if she were to qualify for OFSAA in favour of the 200m. She won that event, too, in Thursday’s second day of the York championships in a time of 24.79. The 200m York title was her the third during her time at Stoufi'ville Secondary. Wmning the race as a Grade 9 and 10 student, she dropped the distance last year in favour of the 800m as a means of training for endurance. She also won the 100m at the York meet in 12.43. The three golds make for a grand exit from Stouffville en route to Notre Dame in indiana and a scholarship this fall. “It was a tough decision. It could have gone either way (to go Notre Dame or remain in Canada). But I wanted to go somewhere different," she said. “It's nice that Notre Dame is only an eight-hour drive away from home," she said. “It's a smaller school and I like the community feel it has. They're really supportive of their athletic programs and academics.” ummduzmmrm lunch-ume mu m wanton-«mam Lion-um WWW m mm “Ti-Juan Impala... MI! mm I'm-noun: Inn- ; A..- The school is making upgrades to its facilities, including a new track. Overall, Stoutfvifle finished fourth overall out of 39 schools in the region. Individual highlights Thursday among the boys’ team included Dan Coskun setting a regional record in the senior discus after winning the event with a toss of 44.08 metres. Liam Mitro set a school record by winning the midget 800m in 2:10.04. The "Grade 9 istudent also won the discus with a toss of 33.59m. Rebecca Muir qualified for the Cen- trals after finishing fifth in the senior javelin and Laura Lehming, fifth junior javelin. Chris Daniels qualified for the Cen- tral Regionals after placing third in the midget 200m in a school record time of 24.94 and fourth‘in the long jump. Michael Bourgeois set a school record in the midget 3,000m after fin- ishing third with a time of 9:46.00. Other regional qualifiers included Iohn Reesor, who finished fourth in the senior high jump and Evan Malcolm, fourth in junior high jump and discus. In girls’ field, Emily Clarkson won the midget javelin with a toss of26. 15m and the shot put with a toss of 8. 18m. The Sun-Tribune is seeking nominations for Whitchurch-Stouffville's Sports Person of the Year. Tell The Sun-Tribune about a coach, manager or executive member you know that is making a difference by volunteering in our sports community. Supporting material and testimonials appreciated. Label nominations "Sports Person of the Year" and mail/deliver to: 6290 Main St., Stouffville, L4A 1G7 or e-mail: stouffvilleawards@yrmg.com by June 15 Award to be presented during Strawberry Festival. June 25 to June 29. For more information call: Jim Mason at 905-640-2612 Citizen of the Year? Know an outstanding resident that gives of their time to make our community a better place? Tell The Sun-Tribune why they should be honoured Include supporting material and testimonials. Label nominations “Citizen of Year” and mail/deliver to: 6290 Main St., Stouffville, [AA 1G7 or eâ€"mail: stouffvilleawards®yrmg.com by June 15. Award to be presented during Strawberry Festival. June 25 to June 29. For more information (all: Jim Mason at 905â€"640â€"26l 2 Best Sport? Who will be Whitchurch-Stouffville 's Siifiifi'ibune SUW-‘Ii'ibune Who is our Stall/film? Stouflifille Natalie Geiger of Stouffville District Secondary School jumps out of the blocks as she wins the 100 m at the York Region high school track and field championships at York University Tuesday. She won two other races in the meet. STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN