Innisfail athletes from grades 7 to 12 are hitting the track in preparation for the 2014 track and field season.
The track at Innisfail Jr/Sr High School was a busy locale last week with athletes practising as early as 7:30 a.m., during school hours and after school on events from shot put to hurdles. They will be practising hard until the junior and senior high school track meets on May 23 and 21 respectively.
“Our team is getting stronger and stronger with every practice we have,” said Sarah Patton, throwing coach who is also a French immersion teacher. “When we first started coming out here our students were getting accustomed to the equipment. I have students who have just started to throw javelin, shot put and the discus, and they are progressing well. Grade 9 student Cherise Ek came out just to see what it was like, and she is learning quickly.”
She noted the junior track meet will be at the Innisfail school campus on May 23 while the senior team will be going to Red Deer's Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School (LTCHS) track on May 21.
“With both meets, any winners will be going on to zone competitions on May 28 to be held at Lindsay Thurber,” said Patton. “We have one zone champion who went last year, and hope to have her win again.”
The students practise four days a week on the track with a varied number of students attending, depending on their commitments.
Patton pointed out her students are encouraged to practise all three events with each athlete having a favourite.
“Austin West (Grade 10) and Emily Lyster (Grade 12), are my javelin throwers and they often have a competition like today when Emily threw better and won,” said Patton. “Emily has been throwing her personal best today and Austin just keeps on getting stronger. He will have a good meet come May 21.”
The three-year coaching veteran said her team consists of Grade 9 Cherise Eck, Grade 10 students Shianne Kelly and Austin West, and Grade 12 athletes Simon Bigger and Emily Lyster.
“Simon came out for the first practice and he is just a natural athlete who can do anything he tries,” added Patton. “Some of my kids will compete in all three events while others will only do one.”
