Local athlete Haylin Eling threw several personal bests during the Tri-Provincial Championship this past weekend.
The competition took place July 27-29 in Sherwood Park, one weekend after Eling competed in the Alberta Summer Games and capped off her season of throwing.
“The weekend was a very big step in my track career,” said Eling about her time playing with highly skilled athletes this past weekend. “Being able to compete with these athletes was an amazing experience.”
Friday night started with Eling competing in discus where she beat her personal best that she had set during the Alberta Summer Games.
This past weekend she landed a new personal best of 25.07 metres (m) whereas last weekend her personal best was at 24.45.
Eling continued beating her personal bests on Saturday when competing in hammer for only the third time.
Previously her personal best sat at 27.54 but that throw, which landed her fifth place, increased her personal best to 29.50 m.
Continuing her efforts of beating her personal bests, Eling threw 30.79 m in javelin, which is a 5.5 m improvement over where she landed last weekend in the same event.
Eling's performance in javelin was her proudest achievement of the weekend but also her most surprising, as she has put the least practice into that event.
“I put so much focus on my other events, it’s hard to balance all four at once and finding the time to do all four,” Eling said.
The final event for the local up and coming throwing athlete was shot put and she once again set a new personal best.
At the Alberta Summer Games, Eling earned a second place finish with a throw of 10.89 m. This past weekend, she managed to get second place again with a score of 11.58 m.
Eling is proud to have beaten so many personal bests this weekend as she feels that’s more rewarding than earning a medial.
“I feel that personal bests and growing in your own achievements is a better reward," Eiling said. “I find that if even I don’t get a medial for a sport and I do get a personal best it just means more to me.”
Looking forward to next season, Eling hopes to most improve her discus throws as she feels it is her weakest event currently.
Additionally she wants to be able to qualify for nationals so she can compete in New Brunswick.
Even though Eling is done with throwing until the spring, she is looking forward to playing club volleyball. She is also considering participating indoor track after school starts up in September.
“I might be juggling two club sports at the same time but I’m not complaining because I love those two sports.”
