Top youth talent from across Sask. take part in 58th annual Legion Track and Field Camp

The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan is hosting their 58th provincial track and field camp for middle and high school athletes.

Middle and high school athletes are taking part in the 58th annual provincial track and field camp hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command.

A total of 174 athletes are competing in this years’ competition, in a five-day summer camp, with 36 of those athletes qualifying at the National Track and Field Championship in Calgary this August.

Some of the athletes are as young as 13 years of age, and depending on their birthday, can spend up to five years at the camp.

For the more experienced athletes, it’s interesting to take a look back.

“Walking in here the first time is a little intimidating, seeing all the bigger athletes and kids,” Kyler Duclos, a fourth-year attendee said. “But throughout the days of my first week, I started to realize everyone’s here for themselves and they’re here to have fun just like everyone else.”

“Now it feels like home coming back here every year. It’s just an amazing feeling,” he added.

Several athletes from every corner of the province are attending the camp for a variety of reasons.

“I still want to keep improving, throwing further and improving my technique,” said Olivia Dyrland, a third-year attendee who specializes in the hammer throw, shot put and the discus throw. “I’m hoping to go to school on maybe a scholarship or compete in the future, and not just like a school or club, I want to go to university or college for it.”

“My dream is always to go to the Olympics,” said Duclos, who competes in the 100-metre, 200-metre, long jump and triple jump. “It’s been a dream of mine since I started the sport, and I believe I can do so. Attending school in the [United] States would be a really, really big goal of mine.”

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As part of the program, younger athletes are given mentors who can give out advice, something mentor Mike Trauner says is critical at this age.

“A lot of kids, if they don’t have parents that are into sports, they really need somebody to guide them along the path. So that’s where I fill in the gaps,” he explained.

Trauner, who is a mentor to kids around the country is also a decorated athlete with two gold medal wins at the Invictus Games, a 23-time medalist in paddling and cycling, as well as a retired Master Corporal.

“Mentorship is going to be mostly about their life, how athletics is going to play into their entire lives,” he explained. “Some of them stay in sports and some don’t, but athletics is something that they carry on for the rest of their lives, right?”

While The Legion doesn’t directly pick the athletes for the camp, representatives notice key personality traits that sit among the competitors.

“It’s got to be their attitude,” camp director David Burke said. “We’re looking for the elite and are also looking for the athletes that share and work together as a team and that pull themselves together. We look for the right athletes to represent the province.”

Geography doesn’t get in the way for attendees, with some athletes travelling as far as 10 hours away from Regina. While athletes from rural locations do not have enough services, this week is valuable time to connect with their peers.

“For the rural athletes, it’s an opportunity to get coaching,” said Carol Pedersen, Provincial President of the Saskatchewan Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. “They don’t necessarily have coaching in their school or their community. So, it’s an opportunity to get specialized coaching in every element of track and field.”

“For another group, it’s an opportunity to come and join with other athletes. Some of Northern Saskatchewan’s athletes do not get to see the rest of the province or the rest of the athletes,” she added.

The track and field camp will be held until July 12 at the Canada Games Complex and the University of Regina.

Regina has also won the bid to host the National championship in 2026 and 2027.