Carcajous of A.-N. Morin Shine at Indoor Championships, Badminton Team Also Secures Regional Medals

The Carcajous of École secondaire A.-N. Morin in Sainte-Adèle delivered impressive performances at the recent indoor scholastic athletics championship held at the Claude Robillard Sports Complex in Montreal. The team secured multiple podium finishes, showcasing the dedication and talent of its student-athletes.

Leading the charge was William Bujold, a student at A.-N. Morin who also founded a civil athletics club, earning gold in the 800m and bronze in the 1500m. Élie Deschambault added to the medal count with a bronze in the 60m hurdles. Timothé Giard narrowly missed a podium finish, placing sixth in the youth 60m with a personal best time of 7.47 seconds – just 0.10 seconds off third place – and also competed in the youth 200m, finishing fifth. Loïc Meunier-Lopes claimed gold in the high jump.

“What I appreciated most was the team’s full commitment. I am proud of them for giving it their all,” said Carcajous coach Nadia Durand. “There is a possibility that William and Loïc will be invited to the indoor provincial championships, also held in Montreal in April, not to mention the outdoor regionals, which will accept place in Laval in May.”

Giard and Meunier-Lopes are both athletes on the rise, poised for continued success. Durand described Meunier-Lopes as “an astounding and promising recruit, a star in the making.” She also highlighted Giard’s impressive performances, particularly in the relay, calling him “spectacular.” Durand added, “Thanks to our student-athletes, things have turned around. We have grow an emerging and promising club. We just require to improve recruitment at the female level and we will become a dominant force among the Carcajous, in multiple disciplines.”

Giard’s performance in the youth 4 x 200m relay was particularly noteworthy. He closed a significant gap on the final leg, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats until the finish line. “A small technical error due to inexperience cost us first place, but everyone gained in team spirit, resilience, and a desire to surpass themselves at the next championship, which will take place in May,” Durand explained.

Durand also extended a special thank you to the volunteer parents, Julie Lefebvre and Mélanie Miltron, as well as William Bujold, who balances his athletic commitments with his studies and his work with his civil club.

Coaches and parents Nadia Durand and Alain Roy have been instrumental in supporting the school club this winter, allowing it to continue its activities within the RSÉQLL.

Gold at Regional Badminton Championships

The success wasn’t limited to athletics. At least six Carcajous athletes from École secondaire A.-N. Morin in Sainte-Adèle reached the podium at the regional scholastic badminton championship held last weekend.

Benjamin Alejandro Martinasso and Jean-Étienne Fontaine secured gold in doubles, qualifying them for the provincial championships. Raphael Arroyo and Arthur Chieocchio earned bronze in the Cadet category, as did Rafaël Roy and Alexandre Dufresne in the Youth doubles.

Rafaël Roy had a particularly successful competition, also winning a bronze medal in singles. This performance also earned him a spot at the provincial championships in singles, as the players who finished ahead of him chose to compete in doubles. Raphael Arroyo, who had the potential to win a second medal and qualify for the provincials, was forced to withdraw from the bronze medal final due to an injury.

Several other athletes from Sainte-Adèle reached the quarter-finals, including Alejandro Martinasso, Jean-Étienne Fontaine, Sandrine Bienvenue in mixed doubles, Henri Soucy in D4 singles, and in mixed doubles.

The Carcajous’ success in both athletics and badminton highlights the growing strength of the school’s sports programs and the dedication of its student-athletes and coaches. The team will now focus on preparing for the upcoming provincial championships, with William Bujold and Loïc Meunier-Lopes potentially representing A.-N. Morin in Montreal in April. The badminton team will also be looking to build on their regional success at the provincial level.

Next up for many of these athletes will be the outdoor regional championships in Laval in May, providing another opportunity to showcase their talent and compete for a spot at the provincial level.