All season long, Nanaimo Track and Field Club athletes got faster, higher and stronger, and it culminated in podium performances at nationals.
The club had a contingent of athletes at the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships this past weekend in Sainte-Thérèse, Que.
Jason Clare was the big winner, capturing gold in U18 pole vault with a leap of 4.5 metres.
Madison Heisterman won silver in the U16 1,200-metre race and earned bronze in the 800m with a time of 2:11.41 that was less than two-tenths of a second off gold-medal pace.
Jessica Katzberg earned silver in the U16 hammer throw with a 48.58m toss, Marina Andersen took silver in the U16 1,500m race walk and Rachel Jerome took bronze in the U18 long jump with a 5.64m leap.
Legion nationals were the final meet of the summer for the Nanaimo club, so it is looking back at a number of major accomplishments over the past few months. Clare’s national championship and the seven national medals are added to a haul of 22 provincial championships and 68 provincial medals. The club can also boast nine provincial team athletes and two national team athletes.
Many track club members will participate in cross-country season, which begins next month.