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Track club has speed, sportsmanship

This past spring and summer season was another extremely successful one for members of the Nanaimo Track and Field Club.

As is becoming the norm, this past spring and summer season was another extremely successful one for members of the Nanaimo Track and Field Club.

The club held its classy annual awards banquet at the end of last month and there was plenty to celebrate. For the second consecutive year, the Nanaimo Track and Field Club captured aggregate trophies for the top boys’ and top girls’ performances on Vancouver Island based on competitions from the past season. As a result, NTFC was again named as the top track club on the island.

As club president and head coach Tyler Heisterman stated at the awards night, “Athletes, parents and coaches have had a lot to be proud of this year. We put on three great events: the Elwood Wylie Meet, the Hershey Games and the B.C. Junior Development Championships. We’ve also had numerous kids set records and become provincial champions. We sent 13 kids to the National Track and Field Midget/Youth Championships, placed four of them on Team B.C. and had two of our athletes represent Canada at international events. It’s been a pretty exciting year.”

Many of the club athletes from the various age categories who contributed to last year’s success were honoured at the awards banquet and my thanks to club director Terri Doughty for passing along details.

Recognized as outstanding tyke girl on the season was Madison Paugh, while Jayden Watson was chosen as outstanding tyke boy. Kaitlyn Watson was the club’s outstanding peewee girl. Winning as outstanding peewee boy was Ethan Katzberg. The outstanding bantam girl from the past season was Madison Heisterman and Dominic Boar was picked as outstanding bantam boy.

Rachel Jerome was honoured as outstanding midget girl and also as the outstanding female field athlete. Outstanding midget boy and also outstanding male field athlete, was Jason Clare.

The award for outstanding youth girl went to Marita DeSchiffart, who was also named as outstanding female track athlete. Chosen as outstanding youth boy and also recipient of the club’s male sportsmanship award, was Andrew de Groot.

Outstanding male track athlete this past season was Carter Higgins. Jessica Katzberg was tabbed as the most improved female athlete on the year, while Sean Miller was named as most improved male athlete. The female sportsmanship award was presented to Alyssa Mousseau.

In a shared award, Amy Morris and Nate Seaman were chosen as outstanding athletes from the NTFC meet. Katelynn Ramage was recognized as outstanding open female athlete. Outstanding open male athlete and also outstanding male off-track runner, was Joel DeSchiffart.

Erica DeSchiffart was named as outstanding female off-track runner. Outstanding masters woman was Karen Shook and the club’s outstanding masters man was Joe Geigerich.

Also honoured at the track club banquet was long-time coach Allen Johnston. Johnston was presented with the 2013 President’s Trophy for his service and great dedication to the Nanaimo Track and Field Club.

Volunteers and athletes are already looking ahead with eager anticipation to the start of another exciting track and field season next spring.

Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.

Ian Thorpe writes about sports Thursdays.