On Sunday, June 19, the Georgian Bay Coyotes took a large team of 31 athletes to the Terry Fox Track and Field Stadium in Brampton for their first outdoor race of the season.
The eight-lane rubberized track gave everyone a spring in their step as they prepared for the day. High winds made it challenging for the athletes, but many managed to strategically tuck in behind another runner and practise their drafting until they were ready to make a move. Despite the wind, the runners brought home a good number of personal best performances.
For many of the younger runners in the club, this event was the first track meet they had ever competed in.
“Our young mite runners were forced to race up an age category to be able to enter a distance race and they made us all very proud. For our older racers, this meet was a qualifying meet for the Ontario Summer Games,” said the club.
Several athletes put their names forth for consideration and their times from this track meet will be used to determine whether or not they will be selected to be part of the team of athletes who will participate in the Ontario Summer Games, an event that was first delivered in 1973 by the City of Oshawa. Since then, the Games have grown to host over 3,500 participants competing in 19 different sports. The Mississauga 2022 Ontario Summer Games will be the 26th edition.
Of the 57 events entered by the Coyote Club, the runners managed to achieve 43 new or first time personal best times, despite the gusty winds, and 14 different athletes managing to place in the top three in their events with five being double medallists on the day.
The club will continue to train for the next month in preparation for the Provincial championship races which are held in July. For full race results or more information on the team please visit their website www.georgianbaycoyotes.com
