On the fast track to success

St. Vital

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This article was published 08/02/2023 (1037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Take a large group of motivated athletes, mix in hard work and add good coaching. That’s the recipe for success for Dakota Collegiate’s boys’ track and field team.

The program’s recent accomplishments include provincial championships in both indoor and outdoor track. Add the cross-country program and you have a South Central Athletic Conference banner and a third-place team finish at the provincial meet.

Coaches Mikhail Gerylo and Mark Rowland, a former member of the Nigerian national track team, focus on participation and individual development. With so many different events in track and field, there’s a spot for everyone.

“I don’t care if they win races for us or if they’re just dedicated to practising and improving their times,” Gerylo said. “I want to give students the opportunity to be part of a team.”

Senior Nevan Brown runs the 60 and 200 metres while also throwing the shot put. Come fall, Brown is also a linebacker on the school’s football team. He’s noticed improvement on the gridiron from his track work.

“It’s good speed training,” Brown said. “Speed off of the ball, getting sacks and tackles… It’s a good sport to train for football.”

Senior Tolu Ogunsolu is a sprinter and long-jump specialist. He said increased endurance from track training allows him to be a better cornerback in football.

“I’ve seen some growth,” Ogunsolu admitted. “My last year or two, I’ve reached the tiers I’ve wanted to. It’s a great program that helps me stay fit for the football season.”

Grade 9 student Preston Benjamin had several top-20 finishes in his first season as a high school triple- and long-jump athlete. Also a receiver on the football team, Benjamin said he saw other football players improve through their work on the track and wanted to emulate them.

“They helped me out with steps for jumping and how to jump farther,” Benjamin said.

Leif Kristjansson is in his first year at Dakota, but the Grade 12 student is making it count, participating in the 60 metre-sprint, the 200 metres, the long jump and the relay team.

“This is my first year but I have a really great time being here,” Kristjansson said. “I like doing my best and helping my school and teammates.”

There’s plenty of opportunity for Dakota’s 1,200-plus students to get involved, Gerylo said.

Each fall, the coaches (and many team members) encourage students to join. Everyone — from international students unused to school sports to those who’ve always wanted to be on a team but never tried — is encouraged to come out.

“You never know when it’s going to stick for someone,” Gerylo said. “You’ll get a Grade 9 student… after three years of developing, or if they join a track program because they like it, they are getting opportunities for scholarships.”

With all of the necessary elements in place, it’s up to the athletes, and they’ve shone.

“With the amount of work we put in in a short amount of time, you can see the results,” Ogunsolu said. “(The success) was a big deal for our school. We never back down for any reason, it was going to happen. We anticipated it from our work ethic. We work hard so we knew we were about to get our reward for it.”