Fully healthy after a broken ankle hampered him last season, Alex Savage showed just what he is capable of.
The 17-year-old Grade 11 student at Walnut Grove captured the senior boys long jump title on Saturday at McLeod Park at the B.C. high school track and field championships.
Savage won the gold medal with a jump of 6.54m.
Savage edged out St. George’s Kenneth Ng (6.51m) and Vancouver College’s Jasper Schiedel (6.50m) for the gold medal.
“It was a great feeling to win,” Savage said.
“I can’t really describe it.
“I have waited all year for this.”
Savage won bronze last month at the Fraser Valley championships, with a leap of 6.19m.
At the very beginning of last season, Savage broke his ankle. He rehabbed and worked his way back, qualifying for provincials despite not being able to fully prepare. But he still wound up sixth.
“The goal was to try and get back to where I was before I hurt myself,” he said.
He also competed in the high jump at provincials, finishing 11th.
Savage is used to success, especially on the big stage.
In 2013, he captured the gold medal in the midget (16 and under) division at the Legion youth track and field championships. He leapt 6.66m to take top spot.
That meet was also held at McLeod Park, where Savage usually trains about four days a week. He is not affiliated with any track and field clubs.
He know shifts his focus to training in hopes of qualifying for the Legion national youth track and field championships this August. They will be held in Quebec.
