A cool day Tuesday and with the wind it felt closer to four degrees Celsius than the eight registered on the thermometer. Not necessarily the ideal weather for athletes to run an 800 metres, as even Holy Rosary Grade 11 student Elkan Ekhator says he would prefer 21 Celsius.
He was channeling his inner Usain Bolt as track and field athletes from district schools compete to represent their schools at the zone meet in Bonnyville next Wednesday May 25th.
“We practised here and there. We were in the [Synergy] Vault a couple times and I also did some of my club sports. So for me it was kind of an easy adjustment, but for some other people, like they haven’t done track in like two years. So it’s hard for them.”
Ekhator says he was grateful to be finally able to get together at a meet with other athletes. He is entered in five events including the 800, 400, 200 and 100 metres as well as the high jump, long jump and shot put.
Schools came from Marwayne, Kitscoty, Vermilion, Paradise Valley, Dewberry and Lloydminster.
Wendy Orieux track coach at Holy Rosary High School welcomes the return to in-person contests.
“The kids have been looking forward to getting back to track and field. We have been off for a couple years so we are supper pumped for them that they finally get to get back at it and we have been just waiting for this day.”
Each school is allowed to bring three competitors per event with the top three from each event advancing to zonals in Bonnyville.