For Leah Pells, competing at the B.C. high school track and field provincial championships was an eye-opening experience.
Competing for Langley Secondary at the 1980 and 1981 championships, Pells didnB次元官网网址檛 find the podium, nor did she run particularly well.
B次元官网网址淚 remember I didnB次元官网网址檛 run well either year, so I was disappointed,B次元官网网址� she recalled.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think I placed higher than eighth. But it was a great event.B次元官网网址�
Of course, her lack of podium finishes didnB次元官网网址檛 hamper as a middle distance runner and at one point was ranked No. 1 in the world.
B次元官网网址淚 always tell kids that if you donB次元官网网址檛 do well there, there is still lots of time,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲hatever happens there, you can build on it and propel yourself forward.
B次元官网网址淚 always remind kids that this is just one experience of many that you are going to have.B次元官网网址�
Starting Thursday (June 1), 2,500 athletes will go for gold as McLeod Athletic Park hosts the 2017 B.C. high school track and field championships.
The meet runs until Saturday.
And to celebrate the meetB次元官网网址檚 50th year, former Canadian Olympic athletes, national team members and provincial high school champions, will be on hand throughout the meet to present medals in the various events.
The list of presenters is still being finalized, but will include shot putter Dylan Armstrong, who won bronze at the 2008 Games.
Andrew Lenton serves as the track and field commissioner for BC School Sports, and he says while the event itself has gotten bigger B次元官网网址� more athletes competing and the ability to live stream events thanks to advances in technology, to name a couple B次元官网网址� the meet remains a marquee event.
B次元官网网址淲hen I competed in high school, this was one event that was on the national landscape,B次元官网网址� he said.
Lenton won bronze in the 1500m in 1984 as a Grade 10 student.
B次元官网网址淭his is where you want to be at your best and I donB次元官网网址檛 think that has changed (over time).B次元官网网址�
For more on the championships, visit www.langleytimes.com.
