Home track advantage
NSSAF track and field championships runs today, Saturday at CBU
The province’s best and brightest track and field athletes will be in Cape Breton this weekend for the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation track and field championships.
The event runs today and Saturday at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex on the Cape Breton University campus.
Among the local hopefuls is Sydney Academy athlete Brandon Martin. At the Highland Region championship held last weekend at Atlantic Street Field, the Grade 11 student took gold in all three running events he competed in: the 800-, 1,500- and 3,000-metres.
The 17-year-old Sydney resident said he’s happy to have the event on home soil to get support from family and friends.
“I’m hoping for the best,” said Martin. “I’m not quite confident in the podium yet. I’m hoping to train hard for next year in my last year in Grade 12. This year, I’m hoping for top 10 because that’s what I’ve got in most years. Last year, my best was seventh in the 800-metre.”
Martin got into the sport through sea cadets. His biathlon training included a lot of running. His officer at the time saw Martin’s potential and signed him up for the Cape Breton Road Runners. He’s been coached by accomplished runner Chris Milburn of Sydney.
“I like to do my own races, like 5Ks and 10Ks with the Cape Breton Road Runners and I did the half-marathon at the Fiddlers’ Run, so I’m more of an endurance guy,” he said. “I’ve always been like that since I was 12 or 13 when I started running.”
About 1,050 athletes from 188 schools from across the province will compete in running, jumping and throwing events like the hurdles, 100-, 200-, 400-, 800-, 1,500- and 3,000-metre races and relays; high, long and triple jumps; discus, shotput and javelin.
Maddie Campbell of Baddeck Academy will contend for a spot on the podium in the senior girls division. She’ll run in the 80-metre hurdles and compete in the discus, shotput and high jump.
Whitney Pier Memorial’s Ella Bottomley will also look to build on a strong showing at the Highland Region championship, where she broke records in the junior girls 1,500-metre and 3,000-metre events. Bottomley is already a provincial champion in crosscountry running after winning the junior girls crown in Halifax back in October.
Sydney Academy track coach Greg Myatt said the event will only help grow the sport locally.
“Kids that are competing for the first time will say ‘oh man, this event looks so good. If I train hard, this is what I can do.’ In that way, this goads them to train harder,” he said. “I’m hoping some of this will translate into summer track.”
The meet begins today at 10:30 a.m. and will run until the final events at 4 p.m. Saturday, the action gets underway at 9 a.m. and runs until the final event at 5 p.m.
*For a full schedule of events, see page B4.