Tomorrow (May 11) at UVicB次元官网网址檚 Centennial Stadium, some of the fastest and strongest high schoolers on the Lower Island put their skills to the test on the track and in the infield.
Among those competing is Colwood resident Cassidy Steen, a 17-year-old middle distance runner who turned heads south of the border last month with a gutsy performance in the 3,000-metre steeplechase event at the Oregon State high school track and field championships in Eugene.
Steen, who attends Mount Douglas secondary, beat Washington State high school champion Emily Wilson in a photo finish by B次元官网网址渟ticking my chest outB次元官网网址� as they crossed the line.
B次元官网网址淭hat was the hardest race IB次元官网网址檝e ever done,B次元官网网址� Steen said, noting it was the first time she had run that distance. B次元官网网址淲e were really close the whole way, then she passed me on the last lap, then I passed her with 100 metres to go.B次元官网网址�
The steeplechase is a low-profile, but exciting event that sees runners leap four hurdles around the track and one more that has a water barrier. That particular jump can slow some athletes down, but Steen, a talented jumper and accomplished figure skater and dancer, said she has trained specifically for that part of the race and gained time there.
She finished the Oregon race in 11 minutes, 49.17 seconds, a mere .07 seconds faster than the runner-up.
For the Lower Island meet, sheB次元官网网址檚 returning to her strong event, the 1,500 steeplechase for which sheB次元官网网址檒l be ranked number 2. She was coming off a knee injury during qualifying, but has confidence sheB次元官网网址檒l qualify for the upcoming Island and provincial championships. SheB次元官网网址檚 also entered in the 800 and 400 metres in the South Island meet, and enters ranked first and second, respectively.
Having set the Island Grade 10 record of 5:23 last year in the 1,500 steeplechase and clocked 5:17 en route to a bronze medal at provincials, she has lofty goals for the next month or so.
B次元官网网址淚 really want to come out as provincial champion for high school in the 1,500 steeplechase,B次元官网网址� she said, adding the U.S. win has given her more confidence. B次元官网网址淚 want to set the (Island) record for the 1,500 and 800. The 400 is more of a workout for me.B次元官网网址� Her qualifying time of 2:22 in the 800 is just three seconds off the record set in 2001, while her best time in the 400 is 1:01.
A competitive figure skater with the Oak Bay club and also a dancer at Mount Doug, Steen has been involved in track and field since Grade 3, but remembers doing the 1K kids race at the TC10K in Grade 1.
These days sheB次元官网网址檚 coached by 1976 Canadian Olympian Dacre Bowen in the Victoria Speed Project. After hearing that Steen would B次元官网网址済et boredB次元官网网址� running the middle distance races, he decided to give her the added challenge of steeplechase. The move has inspired the young athlete to work hard at improving her times and technique.
While she admits to B次元官网网址済etting butterflies,B次元官网网址� especially when she know her opponentsB次元官网网址� times, she enjoys the drama of a longer race. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just fun having all those people cheering for you. The last lap is the most fun; thatB次元官网网址檚 when the race usually starts.B次元官网网址�
The South Island meet gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The Island meet follows up next Wednesday and Thursday (May 11 and 12) back at UVic, and the B.C. championships are hosted next month in Nanaimo.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
