It's amazing the effect a little hard work can have on someone.
Some of the success the YRHS experienced at the biggest track meet in town last week can attribute their success to the training they did over the winter months at the Yorkton Legion.
Three students at the Yorkton Regional High School achieved 'star' status on the tracks last Wednesday and Thursday at the local track and field meet.
Matthijs Wenning, Avery Westberg and Cale Brown all broke records when upwards of 500 students from schools across the East Central District of Saskatchewan got together for the one event that only comes around once, the East Central Districts (ECD) track and field meet.
Westberg did it last year too, breaking the record in the junior girls' 3000-metre dash, a number that had been set in stone since 1983.
At this year's districts, she was in record-breaking spirits again, this time in the 1500-metre and 3000-metre sprints. She did them both in the senior girls' category.
The 17-year-old from Saltcoats also achieved personal bests in the 400-metre and the 800-metre sprints.
Despite a really good showing, Westberg is now more concerned about how she might do when provincials rolls around.
She and her classmates will be making the trip west to Moose Jaw for the first weekend in June to see if they can top their districts performances.
"You want to perform (of course), but it's a practice for provincials," she notes. "You still want to do the best you can and pick up some points."
She said she had a lot of fun at districts, which is the one event, hosted by Yorkton this year and last, where friends and family are usually in attendance.
Of all those headed to provincials, they are all aware that it's not going to have that same comfort level as on home 'turf'.
The competition at Moose Jaw is expected to be much higher than at districts, says Westberg, but has the added benefit of having trained throughout the winter months with Tom Cursons at the Yorkton Legion.
"I will be the younger one at provincials," she told the paper.
"I'm a little nervous," she said with a slight smile. "It's going to be interesting."
"There are a lot of good athletes across Saskatchewan."
She added that it's her goal to go as far as she can with track and field, but hasn't thought much of post secondary options.
Wenning also broke two records, the male versions of the records Westberg broke, the boys' 1500-metre and 3000-metre.
Wenning didn't hold back when describing those races, either.
"The competition was easy," he said with a Joker-like grin on his face. Wenning joined Westberg on the Yorkton Legion circuit over the winter and pinned the credit to his success on that.
The records he broke at districts date back to 1980, according to the YRHS record books.He, like Westberg, is anxiously awaiting the Holy Grail of track and field in the province but he isn't grinning about what's in store in Moose Jaw this weekend.
He says he is familiar with some of the faces he is going to see.
"I know about the competition but am still nervous. It's pretty big, there will be a lot of people there."
Brown is another YRHS student hoping to add to his medal count after breaking the senior boys' 200-metre spring last week at ECDs. He told the paper his best events are the 200 and 400-metre sprints and acknowledged that he is happy with his results from the districts.
He took advantage of what he says was his last chance to succeed in track and he's glad he did take advantage.
"If you don't do the best you can, you feel like it was all a waste. Most of the pressure comes from yourself," says Brown.
Even though he broke the record, he said he wasn't even paying attention to the fact until he was told afterwards.
All his attention, like Westberg's and Wenning's, is now on provincials.
"My biggest focus in my endurance, to really stay healthy," says Brown.
He said he's been running track since Gr. 9 and acknowledged the need to take some time off.Other YRHS students who succeeded in their age group include: Brandey Blahut: midget girls; Wenning, midget boys; Westberg (tied), senior girls; and Brown/John Neibrandt (four-way tie for most points).
