Olds High School throwing coach Rachel Andres competed in Toronto as a part of Team Canada at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association ((NACAC) Championship earlier this month.
She qualified to go to the NACAC Championship as a part of Team Canada after placing first at nationals.
Andres competed in two events during the Aug. 10 - 12 event. The first was discus and she placed fourth with a score of 55.65 metres.
While she didn’t place high enough to earn a medal, Andres said she was still happy with how she performed.
“It was a pretty good day, it just wasn’t the great day I needed to get a medal,” said Andres.
Andres also competed in javelin on the Sunday, placing fourth as well with a final score of 43.4 metres.
She had to pass on her final round due to an injury to her knee.
“Javelin was kind of an extra event so I felt OK going into that one. I had practised for it and I did end up hurting myself in the fifth round and had to pass the final round,” said Andres.
Now with the season having come to a close, Andres is moving towards training for the off-season.
“I’ve got a lot of general conditioning happening this year and I’m going to work on some technique issues to be more consistent with some of my bigger distances,” she said.
Andres had been throwing over 60 metres in her practices all year and wants to start hitting that at all of the meets consistently.
Looking forward to next season there are two things that she is aiming for.
“Pan Am, that’s my ultimate meet goal and then I’d like to be hitting 60 metres next year consistently,” Andres said. “Those are my two goals to reach for.”
Reflecting on the season as a whole, Andres said she feels like it's been the best season of her 22 years of throwing.
"I've been very happy with the results this year and I'm looking forward to bigger and better things next year," said Andres.
