Highlanders Set the Pace at District Championships - Issue 33

In 2025, we had 28 athletes on the team and sent eight boys and nine girls to the Western Region Championships. This year, we are sending 16 boys and 14 girls, more athletes than we had on the entire team just one year ago. That is a remarkable improvement in a single season.

With so many relay teams and individuals winning events, it is difficult to highlight every performance. However, setting a Kings-Hants District record, especially in the sprints, is something special. Spencer ’30 did exactly that in the Junior Boys 80m hurdles, and Manny ’26 did the same in the Senior Boys 200m dash.

Since becoming a head coach in 1990, I have always valued one thing above all others: effort. What I expect from my athletes is that they try their best each and every day. If they consistently give their best effort, results will follow. Conversely, if they do not give their best effort, results will follow as well.

There are names below that appear several times and, without exception, those athletes could be found training on the track this winter regardless of the snow or cold. That said, I do not want to overlook the athletes who are new to track and field or balancing other important commitments. Our Intermediate Girls shot put champion, Zoë ’29, has a greater passion for volleyball, and at times that took precedence. As a coaching staff, we fully support that. Several other athletes are in similar situations.

I also have a particular fondness for athletes who step up and move outside their comfort zones to help their team. I’m thinking specifically of our Senior Girls 4x400m relay team: Fedora ’27, Lucie ’29, Addy ’27, and Alexis ’29. Alexis and Lucie are both Intermediate athletes, Addy joined the relay at the last moment, and Fedora had already competed in the 100m preliminaries and finals, the 200m preliminaries and finals, and the 4x100m relay before still stepping up for the 4x400m relay.

That was not the Fedora we saw a year ago. She has matured and grown more confident. In the end, that is what effort brings: growth and confidence. To me, that represents more than a successful athlete, it represents a person prepared for success in whatever path they choose.

Those who qualified for the Western Region Track and Field Championships, to be held May 22–23 on our Tanna Track, are: