Walnut Grove’s Alex Savage won his second consecutive senior boys long jump title, after leaping 6.65m, well ahead of St. George’s Kenneth Ng (6.48m) for the gold medal, at the B.C. high school track and field championships in Nanaimo.
He also beat Ng in 2015.
“It is rewarding to see all the work I put in, to end the (high school) season this way,” Savage said.
And for the 18-year-old, it is rewarding to win the title in two consecutive years, especially after breaking his ankle at the start of the season in his Grade 10 year.
Savage worked his way back to qualify for provincials that year and finished a respectable sixth.
He won last year — with a winning jump of 6.54m — despite dealing with recurring ankle sprains, a result of that broken ankle.
But the injuries taught him a lesson as well.
“Just work hard every day and never leave anything to chance,” he explained.
The 6.65m was well off Savage’s personal best as he leapt 7.10m back in February, which has him as the top-ranked junior in Canada.
With the high school season now done, Savage is setting his sights on what he hopes is a busy summer. He will attempt to qualify for both Team BC for the B.C. Summer Games, as well as go to the Canadian junior national championships.
Savage, who trains with the Langley Mustangs Track and Field Club, is also hoping to compete at the NCAA level next year.
