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Brooks Secondary School track and field team prepares for regional competition

Brooks Secondary School is sending the largest track and field team in its history to the Vancouver Island High School Track and Field Championship in Victoria on Wednesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 19.
MacKenzie Guild
FINISH LINE: Grade nine student MacKenzie Guild sprints toward the finish while training with Brooks Secondary School’s track and field team. Dave Brindle photo

Brooks Secondary School is sending the largest track and field team in its history to the Vancouver Island High School Track and Field Championship in Victoria on Wednesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 19.

Prior to this year, the team consisted of primarily middle-distance runners. Now, according coach Graham Cocksedge, about 30 athletes are running, throwing and jumping.

“You have a core group really dedicated,” said Cocksedge. “They bring in other kids who realize they have some talent or really like it because it’s fun.”

Student enthusiasm, said Cocksedge, has him excited about the future of the program.

“Now that we’ve started this, kids graduate from elementary and there’s a program,” he said.

Coach Connie Polman Tuin said there are high expectations for some of the athletes.

“We want everyone to see an improvement in what they’re doing from the coaching and training; hopefully that will make them hungry to come back next year,” she said.

One student looking to have a good performance is grade 12 student and decathlete Calli-Ann Abbott, said Polman Tuin. Abbott was recently awarded a track and field scholarship to University of Hawaii.

“Calli came to me a couple of years ago,” she said. “I’ve coached her the last couple of years and she’s managed to give herself a pretty good ride to the University of Hawaii.”

Cocksedge said because the team is young it will help for them to taste a bit of success.

“Because it’s a new team, it happens at every meet and in every event,” he said. “Kids are running up and saying, ‘I’ve jumped farther than I’ve ever jumped,’ or ‘That was the fastest time I’ve had.’ These kids are getting these personal bests and there’s no limit.”