THUNDER BAY -- The Northwestern Ontario regional track and field meet is facing a numbers problem.
The meet is held every year in May, and as Superior Secondary Schools Athletics Association activities director David Pineau observes, the amount of athletes participating continue to dwindle.
“We’ve been down athletes for a number of years,” Pineau said. “I wouldn’t say track and field is being hit harder than any other sports, but the stands are not nearly as full as they were 20 to 30 years ago.”
The downwards trend is owed in part to an aging demographic, decline in enrolment, and a decreased number of schools. But Pineau believes sport specialization to be the most problematic factor.
“Unfortunately football, hockey, soccer, and other players aren’t showing up,” he said.
St. Patrick High School Grade 11 student Jocelyn Ertl is a multi-sport athlete with an emphasis on track and field. She says participation provides both social and physical benefits.
“I like it because there’s something for everyone, it brings the whole community of kids together and we’re just a big family,” she said.
Ertl, who participates in five different events at the meet, says the benefits of one style of sport can be applied to others.
“Doing all the speed work for hurdles helps me a lot on the runway for long and triple jump,” she said. “Track [and field] overall just keeps me fit and active.”
Ertl qualified for the provincial championship in both of her junior years, and is hoping to do the same this year.
“I think as a kid it’s really important to do a bunch of sports at a time, whether it’s soccer, or gymnastics, or track,” she said.
Pineau, for many years, has been preaching the benefits of multi-sport participation.
“Certainly in terms of the mental and physical break that athletes need from their primary sport,” Pineau said. “But in every sport you can gain skills that helps across sports.”
“It’s such a wonderful event… all the stuff is so positive and we need kids taking part in that.”
For those who do attend, the experience is immensely fulfilling.
Annika Jozin had to travel over five hours from Wawa to attend Tuesday’s meet, but it was all worth it as she broke the midget high jump record at a height of 1.61 metres.
“No,” Jozin said bluntly if she thought she would break the record. “I mean I thought I might win but I really didn’t know what I was going to do.”
Jozin, who attends Michipicoten High School as a Grade 9 student, broke the record with her father looking on.
“We didn’t expect a record here at all, she just tries to beat her personal best,” her father Steve said. “She’s been working so hard and this has been her dream to come to meets and perform.”
"I've never felt anything quite like this," she said.
