Peterborough athlete found his stride with York
Chad Cavanagh discovered a passion for the sport while at Toronto university
Craig Cavanagh went from an unheralded recruit from Peterborough to one of the most prolific jumpers in York University’s track and field history within four years.
The St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School alumnus, the son of Rich and Nancy Cavanagh, was inducted into the York University Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 29.
Peterborough wasn’t known as a hotbed for producing track and field athletes during Cavanagh’s childhood and high school years, so like most kids he played a variety of sports growing up and didn’t even really get serious about track and field until he went to York.
“I participated in track and field throughout elementary school and high school, but I was never all that serious about it,” said Cavanagh. “I didn’t join a club until Grade 12 and even then, we were only practicing once or twice per week. I never just played one sport, back then you were able to play a bunch of sports and be successful at them.”
After being recruited to come to York, Cavanagh got serious about the sport and the accolades and outstanding achievements followed. A well-rounded athlete who would become a long jump specialist, Cavanagh experienced success right away. In his rookie 1995-96 season, he earned the OUA gold medal in long jump as well as the silver medal at the CIAU championships. He credits his coaches and training partners at York for helping him reach his full potential.
“Our head coach Sue Wise was an outstanding coach and just a really easy person to connect with and talk to,” said Cavanagh. “Greg Portnoy was the events coach at the time and he was just a brilliant coach. Without him I wouldn’t have had the career that I had. And I can’t forget Geoff Hayhoe, who was a pole vaulter and my closest training partner. We trained together every day for three years and it was awesome to be able to work with him every day.”
By the end of his York career, Cavanagh racked up four CIAU medals (two gold, two sliver) and four OUAA gold medals in long jump. He also won a silver medal in triple jump at the 1998 OUAA championships and stepped onto the track to claim a silver medal in the 60m dash at the 1999 CIAU championships. He also helped York win one CIAU team bronze medal and three OUAA team bronze medals. He was named York male athlete of the year in 1998-99. At the conclusion of his tenure at York he held the York University, OUA and CIAU long jump records.
After graduating, Cavanagh spent two years working as sales rep for Labatt, before changing career paths and attending teacher’s college at the University of Windsor. With one more year of eligibility left, Cavanagh competed with the Lancers during the 2002-03 season and met his future wife Kelley who was also on the track team.
Cavanagh is the second hall of famer in the family, as Kelley was inducted into Windsor’s Hall of Fame in 2015. The hall of fame couple now teach in Essex where they live with their twin boys Caleb and Braeden.
As a teacher at Riverside Collegiate, Cavanagh is now involved in track and field as an administrator and coach. He coaches at the high school level, sits on the board of directors for a few amateur sport organizations and was the convener of the OFSAA track and field championships in 2016.
“It’s cool to be around the sport now and give back in a different way from the administrative side,” said Cavanagh. “I never thought I would be a coach, when my career ended I thought that was the end of it. But now that I’m teaching I’ve really found a passion for that aspect of the sport and I really enjoy doing it.”