At Sundre High School, the track and field banners are a reminder of how far you can go by doing what you can, when you can.
Behind the senior team's success has been teacher and coach Judy Jackson, a folksy woman with a flexible approach to prepping her athletes, many of whom are occupied with other sports and activities.
"I don't make it mandatory to come to every practice. I say, look, we can do your workout in phys-ed, if you want to meet me at noon, we can do this. I have it pretty lax about how they can practice," Jackson said.
"Everybody wants to be a part of it. I tell them, if you do your personal best, our team will do well. I don't care if you got seventh and threw an eight-fifteen. At least you threw farther than you did in Didsbury (at divisionals). Everybody knows their little mark here is going to help the team."
Jackson's team has dominated the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association's South Central Zone for a decade, winning the 2A championship 10 straight years from 2005 to 2015. Their run also includes six consecutive provincial titles from 2009 to 2014.
This year, Sundre finished second among 2A schools at the South Central Zone meet at Calgary's Foothills Athletic Park. Strathcona Tweedsmuir High took the banner, scoring 384 team points. With 272.50 points, Sundre still finished way ahead of third-place Prairie Christian Academy, which had 90.
Students on the team were well aware of the school's prior success and they wanted that 11th straight championship.
"It's a pride thing. We're a school of 300-some kids. To win that many banners at places like this where it's really competitive, I just think it's impressive what our school has done so far over the last 10 years," said Jitse van den Hadelkamp, a Grade 12 student who competed in triple jump and several running events.
"Mrs. Jackson just puts so much time into it for those 10 years that we won it. I don't want to let her down this year."
Jackson was a track and field athlete at the University of Calgary, competing in hurdles, discus and relay. One of the people she trained with was John Cannon, a former Olympic coach.
At Sundre High, she's been coaching track and field since 1986.
Grade 12 student Claudia Mennear, who's headed to her third provincial meet, said Jackson's been a good motivator.
"She really wants us to do our best. If she's watching you, she can help you with what you need to work on because she's been here for so long," said Mennear, who also finished second overall among girls in the points standings.
Jackson also invites other coaches to train the athletes, including Ian James, a former Olympic long jumper now living and working in Sundre as the town's community services manager.
But it's the students who perform and only 31 of them came to zones this year. The team normally averages close to 50. Still, every contribution counts, big or small.
"There's always going to be kids who have bad days but they know they did the best they could," Jackson said.
"The Grade 12 'javvy-thrower,' she threw a 'jav' and headed back to hit chemistry. So, good on her, she came all the way here, supported the team and she got fourth or fifth or something. So whatever, it's all good."
