Quesnel will send seven track and field atheletes to Cowichan for the B.C. Summer Games next week (July 19-22).
They will compete as part of the Zone 8 team and do their best to make their mark on the provincial stage.
Kyle Eggert, 14, will try his hand at shot put, discus and hammer throw.
At the North Central Zone track and field meet in Quesnel, Eggert placed first in all those events, so he says he is feeling relatively confident heading into these games.
“My chances aren’t bad,” he says.
“I did pretty good in provincials, landing dead in the middle and there are not as many people going [to the B.C Summer games].
“I think [I should finish] top ten at least.”
Lidia Solecki, 14, will race the 80 metre hurdles and compete in triple jump.
“I have long legs,” she says when asked how she came to try out these events. “So my parents suggested I take part.”
Solecki is looking forward to meeting a whole bunch of athletes from all across B.C.
READ MORE: QJS impresses at Zone track meet
Lauren Pastachak, 14, will participate in high jump, the 100m dash and the 4x100m relay.
She has competed at the BC Winter Games previously and is eager to take on the challenge.
“The competition is harder because they train a lot more,” she says. “For track and field they can train all year round and we can’t.”
Pastachak says her team mate’s passion and commitment are still strong though.
Ryan Pugh, 15, will compete in long jump 100m and 200m dash as well as relay. The dashes are his best events and he says he has an edge he plans on using.
“I’m going to mentally prepare weeks before and then I’m going to beat them.” Push says he find meditation very helpful.
Rylan Murphy, 15, will compete in a bevy of events. He is signed up for 800m, 100m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay and long jump.
He says the 800m is going to be the toughest as he hasn’t trained quite as much for it but he thinks he should do well in long jump.
Olivia Momer, 14, will be throwing hammer and discus at the meet.
“I’ve gotten good through lots of practice,” she says.
“And I learned my technique from Mr. Kramer.”
Her best throws of the season have been 22 feet for hammer and 17 feet for discus.
Caleb Woollends, 14, will also be aiming far while competing in hammer throw and shot put.
