Powell River heptathlete Calli-ann Abbott has brought home a bronze medal after finishing third at the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships.
Calli-ann, 15, went up against Canada’s best in U-18 Women’s Heptathlon, a combined competition where athletes compete in seven events over two days. She participated as a member of Team BC Yukon’s youth team at Langley’s McLeod Park.
“This was her first time competing in a combined event at the national level, so there was lots to learn,” said her mother, Traci.
Heptathletes score points in each of the disciplines in which they compete and placement in those events is secondary to an athlete’s point total.
Calli-ann qualified for the team with a point total of 4,526 and won her bronze medal with 4,578.
The championship provided drama for spectators, parents and coachs alike, as the tournament came down to the final event, the 800m run, to decide who would stand on the podium. Both Calli-ann’s parents and her coach Connie Polman-Tuin watched as the competition unfolded.
“Once Calli-Ann checked in for her first event, she was required to stay with her fellow competitors for the duration of that day’s competition,” said Traci. ”In between events they were taken to a tent where they could rest, refuel and then get warmed up, but no parents or coaches were allowed.”
Calli-ann started the first day of events with 100m hurdles where she ran a new personal best of 14.64 seconds and was sitting second after the first event.
During the high jump, Calli-Ann jumped just off her personal best, finishing third in points in the event, but remained second overall after two events. Four competitors jumped at the same height in the event and all gained the same amount of points.
Calli-ann retained her second-place standing through shot put, the third event that day, setting a new personal best with her throw at 11.90m.
The last event of the day saw the girls back on the track for the 200m sprint. Calli-ann finished third in the 200m and at the end of the first day she continued to held onto second place overall.
On the second day of competition, the first event was long jump where according to Traci, “Calli-Ann started off with some very consistent jumping and a first-place finish with a jump of 5.23m, just shy of her personal best.” She maintained her second place standing with the event.
“Javelin was next, and we saw some very good throws from the top competitors,” said Traci adding that Calli-Ann finished fourth with a toss of 31.90m.
After javelin, the points spread was very close between the top four competitors and it came down to the final event to decide the winners.
“This was something Connie and Calli-ann had been preparing for, both mentally and physically in the weeks prior to nationals, as they figured the podium positions would come down to the final run,” said Traci. “She has struggled with the 800m this season, but she knew what was at stake.”
In the final 800m run, she shaved 10 seconds off her time and finished at 2 minutes 43 seconds, said Traci.
Katie Weaver, one of Calli-ann’s teammates, ran an exceptional 800m and was able to edge her out of second place after point calculations, she added.
“It was exciting to watch the girls compete over the two days. We were pleased with her ability to concentrate on one event at a time, get the job done and then move on, coming out with a bronze medal her first year,” said Traci. “She is already talking about the areas she can work on to gain more points for next season.”
