With the likes of Olympic medalist Dave Steen and former Canadian decathlon champ Mike Smith among the school’s alumni, Rostam Turner will soon join a track and field program with a winning tradition.
Add in the fact that his older brother and fellow decathlete, James, is already a member of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and Turner’s post-secondary choice was an easy one to make.
“They have a great program there and a great coach in Andy Higgins, so that will help a lot,” said Rostam Turner, who committed to U of T last fall. “It’ll be good to be together with (James) on the same team and at the same school. We’ve always helped each other out for training and things like that, so I think it’s going to work out. He knows the campus and the team and all that, so he’ll be able help ease me into things.”
Kelowna’s Turner brothers are among the best multi-event athletes ever to come out of the Okanagan. James won the Canadian junior decathlon (10 events) title in both 2011 and 2012, while Rostam struck gold in the octathlon at the Canadian youth track championships last summer in PEI.
This year, Rostam has moved up a division and will compete at the junior level (18 and 19 years)
Later this month, the Grade 12 student from KSS will wrap up his competitive high school career at the B.C. Combined Event Championships in Abbotsford.
Then this summer, prior to moving to Toronto, Turner will look to follow in his brother’s footsteps by qualifying for the national junior decathlon championships in Quebec.
Turner, who was recently named the City of Kelowna’s male athlete of the year for 2012, will be enrolled in the Life Sciences program at U of T.
Maryschuk to TWU
A new chapter in Katie Maryschuk’s life—both academically and athletically—will begin this fall in Langley.
The soon-to-be Rutland Senior Secondary grad will attend Trinity Western University on a track and field scholarship.
“I’m just really excited that someone sees that I have potential,” said Maryschuk. “I’m not out there every single day killing myself, but obviously I want to be better and I train really hard to do that, so I’m glad that somebody sees I may able to go far and do something with track.”
Maryschuk, 17, specializes in three field events—high jump, pole vault and javelin.
Last season, she won a bronze in high jump at the B.C. Athletics provincial jamboree.
This week at the Central Okanagan championships at the Apple Bowl, Maryschuk won gold in pole vault with a personal best, a silver in high jump and a bronze in javelin.
Next on the agenda is the Okanagan Valley track and field championships next Wednesday at the Apple Bowl.
At TWU, Maryschuk will study communications.
