Emily Lucas and Mackenzie Ramsell have only pursued track and field for a year but already they are competing against Canada's elite.
The young ladies, both 15 and Grade 11 students at Innisfail Junior/Senior High, will be joined by 15-year-old Brayden Posyluzny. When compared to his female colleagues he is an old pro with four years experience in track and field.
The three local athletes, all members of the Red Deer Titans track and field club, have been selected to represent Alberta at the 2013 Legion Canadian Youth Track and Field Championships in Langley, B.C. on Aug. 9 through to the 11th. The event will see 330 young athletes from Canada go head to head and compete in a variety of track and field disciplines. About 80 per cent of Canada's national track and field team has participated in the legion program.
Darren Posyluzny, the head coach of the Titans and Brayden's father, said the selection of the trio speaks volumes of the high quality of talent coming out of Innisfail.
“Absolutely. When you look at the Legion's standards they have to meet and they only select 27 youth athletes, half male and half female, and have three of them coming from Innisfail meeting that standard, it goes to show that small towns can produce real diamonds in the rough, real high quality athletes,” said Posyluzny, adding it is the first time Brayden and Lucas have made it to the national event. “They are also competing for the first time as youths. They will be competing alongside second-year youth athletes. To make it as a first year youth speaks volumes for their abilities and commitment.”
Lucas specializes in the 1,500 and 3,000-metre events. She is ranked first in the province in the 3,000 and 19th in Canada. Lucas is ranked second in Alberta in the 1,500-metre distance and 42nd in Canada.
“I'm pretty excited about going. It will be a good experience and I am also excited to race against girls who are of higher calibre,” said Lucas. “I'm hoping for personal bests. I would like to medal but the girls I am racing against are pretty fast.
“But I have really improved a lot and have cut down so much of my times,” she added with a note of confidence.
Ramsell is tied for third in the Alberta rankings for both high jump and long jump. Nationally, she is ranked 30th in the high jump and 12th in long jump.
She said although last year's experience at the nationals did help her cope with the jitters she knows the competition will be even tougher this year against the older and more experienced youths.
“I have learned not to get so worked up and not expect anything more than I've done and not to be unrealistic,” said Ramsell.
Brayden Posyluzny, a Grade 11 student at Red Deer's Notre Dame High School, is ranked first in Alberta and fifth nationally in the Octathlon, an event that consists of eight track and field events. He is also ranked first in the province and sixth in Canada in the long jump.
His highest point total to date in the Octathlon is 4,763. His eyes are on the Canadian record of 6.006 points.
“If I don't win I'm hoping to get a medal,” said Brayden. “But right now I'm just honoured they picked me to go to this event To represent Alberta in front of a national audience is amazing.”
