Local schools gearing up for track provincials

By SEAN ROONEY on June 6, 2019.

srooney@medicinehatnews.com@MHNRooney

It’s the week before high school track and field provincials, which once upon a time would’ve meant a smattering of athletes showing up for practice at Medicine Hat’s Rotary Track.

With the two-time defending Alberta 4A champs in their usual top form and a former 3A powerhouse ramping back up, there were upwards of 50 on the track Wednesday.

That’s a little more than a smattering.

“There’s a group here that really wants to push,” said Darryl Smith, back coaching Eagle Butte after nearly a decade. “I missed it.”

The Talons have 14 headed to Calgary Friday and Saturday for Alberta Schools Athletic Association championships, while the aforementioned Mohawks from Hat High will send 49, looking for a third title in a row and fourth overall.

Add to that six from Crescent Heights and three from Monsignor McCoy qualified and there will be plenty of buses heading three hours west on the Trans-Canada Highway.

“Very excited,” said Hat High coach Glen Mori. “It’s another large team we’re taking up there, a lot of good kids That’s the main thing, kids enjoy track and enjoy being part of our school culture.”

Winning doesn’t hurt, either. Mori figures Calgary’s Crescent Heights and Edmonton’s Strathcona will make this year’s 4A banner race a tight one, but the Mohawks have several aces up their collective sleeves.

Joshua Suelzle is fresh off setting a rare triple of zone records last week in Lethbridge, in the intermediate boys shot put, discus and javelin.

Teammates Orin May and Lukas Herter have pushed each other all season, splitting the intermediate 100 (May) and 200 (Herter) sprints at zones. May’s zone record in the 100 metre hurdles and gold in 300 hurdles could have him challenge for the provincial aggregate title, while their schools’ relay team looks to be extra dangerous.

“We’re always in the top three in the province, so we just want to go out there and do the best we can,” said Herter, who will compete in the 200, 400 – which he won at zones – and two relays at provincials. “If we do the best we can, it’s in our abilities to win (the 4A banner) again.”

Cambria Rattai has also been racking up medals and records in the intellectual (special needs) divisions, and will be a key factor in the team points race.

“She scored a lot of points for us last year at provincials and she will again this year,” Herter said of Rattai.

While the Mohawks are used to the limelight, the Talons haven’t sent more than 10 athletes to provincials in a while, perhaps as far back as the last time Smith coached them. They won the provincial 3A title in 2010 in Medicine Hat but haven’t contended since.

“It’s my first year actually ever doing track, so it’s really cool,” said Azlin Ferguson, who will compete in intermediate girls’ 200 metre dash and a 4×100 relay made up of various South Zone athletes. “The experience, going to provincials, is an amazing, amazing opportunity.”

Montana Wright set a new zone mark in intermediate girls javelin last week, 35.14 metres, and gives the Talons a good chance in the throwing events. But Smith knows if they can keep the momentum and get more participation in future years, the sky’s the limit.

“If we get the kids out running, that helps our cross country,” he said. “Track can bring all sports together, I think that’s a part of what maybe we need to revitalize.”

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