Two members of the NorWesters Track and Field Club can now call themselves Canadian champions after scoring gold medals at the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships held Aug. 7-9 in Ste-Therese/Blainville, Que.
Brendan Artley claimed the title in the boys youth (17/18) javelin competition while Kristen Schulz took top spot in the girls midget (14/15) triple jump.
The win capped off an amazing year of development for Artley who is set to enter Grade 12 at Collingwood School this fall. One year ago Artley started working with new NorWesters javelin coach Andy White — a UBC grad who represented Canada at the World University Games earlier this summer — and the improvements were massive. Artley attended nationals last year, finishing fifth in what was his first ever meet representing NorWesters.
“He didn’t even own a pair of javelin spikes, he threw in just a regular pair of track spikes, so no heel to actually stop or block in the ground,” said White. “(Fifth place) was actually quite an accomplishment for a guy who was just getting started in the sport.”
Artley worked with White all year, however, and added more than 14 metres to his personal best, recording a 65.61 m throw earlier this season. At nationals Artley’s throw of 58.77 m on his second attempt was enough to earn him the gold, 55 centimetres past the second place mark.
“He made just a massive leap in metres to get the title this year,” said White. “I honestly did not expect him to develop this fast. I was thinking if he got into the mid-50s to high-50s, that would be quite an accomplishment this year. So for him to have consistent throws in the 60s, up to mid-60s, it’s pretty darn good. I think he’s on track to be a very good thrower.”
White, who has a personal best of 72.35 m (with a senior javelin, 100 grams heavier than a junior), admitted that his pupil may one day pass him by.
“I’m pretty sure I’m looking at an athlete who is going to out-throw me,” he said with a laugh. “In how many years? I don’t know. But it’s probably going to happen.... Brendan is kind of coupling a good athlete with good work ethic and good technique. I think he’s set up well.”
As for Schulz, her first jump of 11.41 m blasted her into top spot in the competition and no one came close the rest of the way. Schulz, in fact, was the only athlete to jump past 11 metres, and she did it four times in her six jumps.
“She has wonderful style,” said NorWesters program co-ordinator Dawn Copping.
Schulz was also a part of the bronze medal-winning British Columbia 4x100-m relay team which completed the course in 48.68 seconds. The Argyle secondary student trains with NorWesters coach Elena Voloshin who was the jumps coach for the Canadian youth team which recently competed in Brazil at the IAAF World Youth Championships.
“She’s one of the best in Canada,” Copping said of Voloshin. “She’s had wonderful success with the jumpers in recent years.”
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Two NorWesters also scored big at the B.C. Junior Development Championships for athletes age 9-13 held July 17-19 in Kamloops.
Caleb Hoey racked up seven medals, including gold in the 100 m, 200 m, 300 m, 4x100-m relay, shot put and discus to go along with bronze in long jump.
Quinn Cameron also loaded up on the medals, taking home gold in the 80-m hurdles and long jump, silver in 800 m and 1,200 m and bronze in javelin.
Several NorWesters also raced onto the podium at the B.C. track and field championships held July 10-12 in Nanaimo. Here are the medalists:
-Vladislav Moldavanov (senior 20+) won gold in the long jump and in the triple jump
-Kristen Schulz (midget 14/15yrs) won silver in the long jump and gold in the triple jump
-Brendan Artley (youth 16/17) won gold in the javelin throw
-Mackenzie Riddell (youth 16/17) won gold in the decathlon
-Dylan Rachel (midget 14/15yrs) won silver in the high jump and bronze in the long jump
-Daniel Voloshin (senior 20+) won silver in the 110-m hurdles
-James Elson (junior 18/19) won silver in the high jump
-Emma Rastad (youth 16/17) won bronze in the 100-m hurdles and in the long jump
-Kristie Elliot (midget 14/15) won bronze in the triple jump
-Karin Adande (senior 20+) won silver in the 100 m
