There is something a little different to the Royal Canadian Legion Track & Field meets.
Scheduled directly on the heels of the high-school track season run-up that culminated with the festival of athleticism that is the annual OFSAA competition, the District Legion Meet is typically sprinkled with some faces that were seen at either SDSSAA or NOSSA.
But with an age spectrum that extends back into elementary school years and caps off below the age of some very accomplished seniors, the Legion event draws a slightly different crowd.
Throw in race distances seldom seen elsewhere – a whole slew of new records were established Saturday at Laurentian as the gathering introduced the 150m dash across the board – and it’s easy to pin-point the uniqueness of the Legion series of competitions.
Local high-school freshman Nadia MacDonald was quite happy with the differences.
The NOSSA Novice girls 300m hurdles and long jump champion had been looking to break into new territory since the start of the current track and field season.
“Long jump is my main event and I really, really, really wanted to hit five metres,” noted the Lo-Ellen Park freshman who covered 4.92 metres at NOSSA, but had not bumped that distance the requisite nine centimetres – at least not officially, in competition.
“I’ve had some meets where I hit five metres but the jump didn’t count because I faulted,” said MacDonald, who also trains with coach Robert Esmie and the Air Blastoff crew. “Today I did it and I am so proud of myself. There were moments I was doubting myself, that I didn’t think I could do it.”
Along with claiming gold in the long jump with a leap of 5.05 metres – just enough to eclipse the old meet record of 5.04m held by Allison Byrnes of Marymount – MacDonald also took top spot in the 80m hurdles (13.66) and the 200m hurdles (31.77), a strong candidate to advance to provincials, representing District H.
The entire day represented a nice bounce back after enduring exactly the type of OFSAA experience that so many first year high-schoolers have had before her. “That wasn’t a good meet for me,” she confessed. “I faulted on my first two jumps so on my last jump, I did a safe jump (4.79m).”
“I felt that I let the kids intimidate me,” MacDonald added. “Normally, I work very well under pressure. That meet, I felt like I let it get in my head. I wasn’t focused.”
Returning to the comfort of the venue at which she trains more often than not, the 15 year-old who first took a shining to track and field in grade three slipped right back into form. “Here, I was more calm, more in my element, and I was able to jump to the best of my abilities,” said MacDonald.
And for as much as coach Esmie is well known for his expertise in the sprints, this young protégée noted that there are multiple ways in which the Olympic gold medallist can help uncover her full potential.
“He has definitely helped me a lot with my knee drive, picking up my knees,” said MacDonald. “I definitely struggled with that a lot. Also, running on my tiptoes. In the past, I would do heel to toe, which slows you down.”
“And he’s given me more confidence in myself. That’s definitely impacted me positively.”
No surprise there given the atmosphere that Esmie loves to create in a still physically demanding setting. “We are working really hard and practices and we’re learning a lot of technique and how to run properly, but he also makes it such a fun and positive environment,” said MacDonald.
“I will be sitting at school and thinking: wow, I can’t wait to come to practice. I just really love it.”
Sanctioned as an Athletics Ontario meet, the Royal Canadian Legion: District H competition was also endorsed as a qualifier for the recently unveiled Ontario’s Fastest Kids program. Children born in 2012 or later were invited to take part in one of eight meets across the province, with winners from each region earning a spot in the finale at the Ontario U20 & Open Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Toronto on July 20th.
Advancing to the final stage were Ava Bebawy (11.10 seconds) and Bentley Richer (11.53), both from Sudbury.
Some northerners who spring-boarded from very impressive performances at OFSAA included Corey Lacroix of Lo-Ellen Park (U18 – 1st in 110m hurdles – 15.84; 1st in 400m hurdles – 59.10), Carlie Popp from North Bay Legion (U18 – 1st in 100m hurdles – 15.92; 1st in 400m hurdles – 1:08.10; 1st in pole vault – 2.90 metres), Melina Doiron (U18 – 1st in 100m dash – 12.37; 1st in 200m – 25.17) and Knights’ double OFSAA medal winner, Francis Mallory (U16 – 1st in long jump – 5.66m; 1st in triple jump – 11.34m).
Pending acceptance of their invitations, the regional teams will start to prepare this week for the Ontario Legion Track & Field Championships (July 12th-13th at York University), leading into nationals in Calgary in August.
Other local U18 gold medal winners included:
U18 Girls Division400m – Barbara Ceccon – 1:01.57
800m – Barbara Ceccon – 2:26.95
1500m – Lily Bignucolo – 5:16.80
Shot Put – Kayiesha Thomas – 11.65m
Javelin – Kayiesha Thomas – 30.93m
U18 Boys Division
100m dash – Nicholas Bechard – 11.72
200m – Jacob Paille – 23.43
400m – Jacob Paille – 53.60
800m – Shiloh Sauve – 2:05.25
1500m – Shiloh Sauve – 4:38.60
High Jump – Riley Graffi – 1.75m
Triple Jump – Gabe Gauvreau – 11.58m
Shot Put – Brayden Bertrand – 10.62m
Javelin – William Church – 49.36m
