Dozens of runners took to Foote Field Saturday for the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials, including many aspiring athletes who hope to one day qualify for the Olympics.
Madeleine Sumner, 18, of Calgary ran in the 1,500 metre junior women’s final but did not finish in the top three. Despite that, she said it was exciting to be at the competition.
Sumner described the race as a beneficial experience.
“It was fun to be racing the top girls in Canada,” she said.
“It’s inspiring and there’s so much to learn from watching these high level races. These girls are so experienced and I look up to them a lot.”
Sumner said she plans to continue running and may one day have her eye on the 2020 Olympics.
Hailey Hitchings of Edmonton ran in the 100 metre junior women semi-finals. The 18-year-old has been running since the age of 12.
Though she did not place high enough in her heat and won’t race in the finals, Hitchings said it was an honour to be at the competition.
“There are some amazing athletes and I look at them (and) I’m like, ‘One day I’ll be like you hopefully,’” she said.
The runner said she aspires to one day qualify for the Olympics but said she knows that journey requires discipline.
“I’m on the varsity team at my university so I’m just going to go to every practice, try as hard as I can while I’m there and try as hard as I can when I’m not there too. Eat healthy. Maintain a healthy lifestyle,” she said.
Chuba Hubbard, 18, also of Edmonton finished first in his heat in the 100 metre junior men’s semi-finals with a time of 10.73 seconds.
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“I feel good. It was a good first race. I got out decent. I kept it technical. I’m happy with my time,” he said.
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Hubbard said the 2020 Olympics is in the back of his mind but for the time being, he is relishing being at this level of competition and with this calibre of athleticism.
“It’s just amazing. I love competition, it pushes me,” he said.
The competitors are relishing their time on the track, but keeping a close eye on them are even younger athletes who aspire to be the ones competing one day.
Olivia Cooper, 15, has been running for approximately five years and enjoys competing in the 800 and 1200 metre races. She is a member of the Edmonton Harriers.
“I’m here to watch all these amazing runners. I think it’s pretty interesting to watch them,” she said.
Cooper is scheduled to compete in other competitions such as nationals this summer and dreams of making it to the Olympics in the future.
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For now though, being in the presence of Olympic hopefuls is motivating.
“It’s amazing. It’s overwhelming actually. There are so many amazing runners. It’s really cool to watch them and see all their times. It inspires me to try and run faster for myself.”
The championships and trial wrap up on Sunday.