By Kathy Gallant

Divisional meet kicks off M.L. track and field season

May 10, 2018 | 8:00 AM

Several students in Meadow Lake schools took their first steps down the road to provincials at track and field events Wednesday.

Athletes from several local schools took part, including Carpenter High and Jonas Samson Junior High, Pierceland, Rapid View Goodsoil, Dorintosh, and Ernie Student School in Loon Lake. First Nations schools, including Island Lake and Chief Napew School from Big Island Lake, also sent participants.

Teacher Trent Marsh, who organized the divisional event, said around 150 young athletes competed in high jump, long jump, triple jump, javelin, shotput, discus, hurdles and numerous running events.

“It’s mainly for Grades 9 to 12, but it’s also a chance for Grade 7s and 8s to get their first feeling of competition for what could build into the provincials in the future,” he said. “They get divided into four age groups – bantam, midget, junior and seniors – and the top three in each event get to go to districts.”

Those who move onto districts will face off against more students from a larger region, Marsh said. The districts will return to Meadow Lake later this month, with hurdles and 3,000-metre races taking place May 22 and the remainder of the events happening May 23.

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Marsh said students are encouraged to choose up to four different events to participate in.

“You can only compete in up to four events at districts and provincials,” Marsh said. “It saves energy and prevents risk of injury. If they do five or six events in a day, that’s a lot. But, especially at the younger ages, we tell them to have fun with it and it’s important to develop those skills.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath