Joseph eager for new challenges at WCSG
Scott Joseph promises to be one of the hometown athletes to watch at the Western Canada Summer Games.
“I feel pretty honoured and excited to compete in my hometown. I want to represent my hometown and bring home a couple medals if possible. I will just try my best to make my hometown proud,” said Joseph.
Joseph, 17, will represent Saskatchewan in his four most familiar events when he competes in the 100 Metre Dash, the 200 Metres, the Long Jump, and the Triple Jump. He will also take part in the 4x100 Metre Relay.
“I am honestly shooting for personal bests, but if I can medal I would love that. Honestly I just want to see if I can improve more at the Summer Games.”
The 6’2’’ Joseph is hoping for an extra boost while competing on his home track.
“I’ve used this track so many times. I know how it feels on the track and the runway for the Long Jump and Triple Jump. I feel pretty comfortable competing here in my hometown.”
However, he will have his work cut out for him competing against older athletes.
“I actually like that idea. I want to see where I am standing between those guys. I know they have been training for awhile and competing at a higher level, so I just want to see where I am standing by them.”
Joseph said he has been training three times a week in preparation of the Games. He was also headed to Winnipeg to train with his uncle. “It is super competitive. He’s going to train me hard there for the Summer Games. It should be good for me to get me in shape a little bit.”
Joseph had an incredible final season with the Colts on the track when he won five medals at SHSAA Provincials in Moose Jaw, including gold in the Triple Jump, 200 Metres, and the 4x100 Metre Relay en route to a Senior Boys aggregate title.
“It felt great. I wasn’t expecting to get those [medals]. I knew I had to work hard. That was one of the things that I just had to try my best and just see what I could end up getting and I ended up getting five medals, which I am very honoured and humbled to get that. It was a good experience.”
Joseph also suited up for the Colts in soccer and basketball, but has made track and field his primary focus going forward.
“I just feel like I am good at the sport. It’s one of the sports that I know I’m actually good at, where I know I can improve, where I know I can get some help in there and become somebody later in the future.”
Joseph’s final high school accolade was being named the SCCHS Colts Outstanding Male Graduating Athlete at the school’s awards banquet when coach Mandi Tuplin presented him the award.
“That really touched me a lot, especially coming from one of my favorite coaches. It really made me happy and made me feel like a really good athlete, which is good,” said Joseph.
“Scott has had a very impressive high school track and field career,” explained Tuplin. “Collecting 11 provincial track and field medals is something very few high school athletes have accomplished. His natural talent is very rare. He is the kind of athlete you see once in your coaching career.”
The WCSG may be his last act in Swift Current, but Joseph will take his speed and jumping ability to the University of Regina Cougars in the fall.
“It was a really tough decision. I was looking for what school was best for me and which team, since I was going in for track I wanted to see which program was really good. I heard the U of R jumping program was really good, so I decided to go there,” said Joseph, who plans to study Kinesiology.
“To this point he has worked hard enough to be successful at the provincial level. Throughout his high school years he was encouraged to be a multi sport athlete. Scott has huge potential in track and field. It will be great to see the results he will post with a year long track and field specific training program,” said Tuplin, who added that she expects Joseph to be in the medal hunt in the Long Jump and the Triple Jump at the WCSG.