High school athletes back on track

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This article was published 08/06/2022 (1382 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a long time coming for Manitoba’s high school track stars.

They’ve faced a pandemic and inclement weather and cancelled meets during the 2022 outdoor season. Their training and patience is about to pay off as the 2022 Manitoba Provincial Track and Field Championships get underway Thursday.

Many athletes are competing on the province’s biggest high school track and field stage for the first time and it’s the last opportunity for others. Beyond the hunt for personal bests, medals and banners is excitement and the urge to finally get off to the races.

“I’m just trying to tell everyone to stay positive and to not worry,” said Sophia Alexander, a Grade 11 student at Garden City Collegiate competing in the distance medley. “Pretty much all of us except the Grade 12s it’s our first provincial, so just be excited, have fun and know it’s your first time doing it.”

The 2022 Manitoba Provincial Track and Field Championships are the first edition of the event since 2019.

Approximately 1,200 students from 146 schools will compete in 70 different events from Thursday to Saturday at the University of Manitoba Stadium.

“It’s something that you can’t help but get caught up in once you’re there and the races get going and you’re yelling, screaming and cheering on the competitors as they go,” said Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association assistant executive director Greg Jarvis. “It’s just amateur sport at its best.”

The final day of preparation for the Garden City Collegiate Fighting Gophers started after class Wednesday afternoon.

In the eye of the storm created by swarms of students rushing to get home, the school’s track team was hard at work. They jogged around the white-lined, crimson and rubberized track, getting one last tune-up before provincials.

Excitement was in the air and it was also met with an abundance of nerves. One student could be heard yelling “Dude, you’re never gonna get anywhere by comparing yourself,” during a debate about qualifying times. However, it’s something the athletes have learned to combat.

“It’s kind of hard because there’s always a placing,” said Taya Clark, a member of the school’s track team in Grade 10. “But just remembering that as long as you do your best, that’s all that matters.”

It’s Clark’s first time competing at the Manitoba Provincial Track and Field Championships and she’s looking forward it.

“It’s something that I’ve never experienced before, especially in high school, because last year we didn’t have that experience because of COVID-19,” she said.

While Alexander and Clark will have another crack at provincials, one of their teammate’s first experiences at the event will be her last.

Grade 12 student Eliza Vergara joined the school’s outdoor track team in her final year of high school and is competing in the varsity girls triple jump. Vergara’s enjoyment of the event comes from its technical nature, adding the team’s camaraderie is a motivating factor.

“Even if you don’t know anyone they’ll just be like, ‘Hey how are you doing?’ or if you’re injured they’ll immediately be like, ‘Are you doing okay?” she said. “It’s just a really supportive team.”

Preparation for this week’s event also took place off the track and at Fort Richmond Collegiate, the team’s final tune-up was a mental training session. The school’s head coach, Ben Hodges, said they used visualization techniques to turn nerves into passion.

Hodges admitted he’s felt like the bearer of bad news over the last few years. He’s guided athletes through a pandemic, notifying them about cancelled practices and meets. However, through all the obstacles the team has faced, he’s ready to reach the finish line for their goals.

“They’re feeling ready,” he said. “Which is a nice thing as a coach, I’m really happy to hear that they’re feeling ready and confident going into it.”

It’s time for the starter’s pistol to fire on the 2022 provincial meet and for hardware to be handed out. And as athletes reach the end of their high school competitions for the year — and some forever — it doesn’t have to be the last of their time on the track.

“Just try to have fun with it and know if you want to continue running and if you’re passionate about it, you can still do it out of school,” said Alexander. “You don’t have to be in a club, you can just do it on your own for fun.”

Gavin.Axelrod@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: Gavin77axe