A Bonnyville teenager has achieved more than most high school track and field athletes could ever dream of, being ranked the best in Canada.
A Bonnyville teenager has achieved more than most high school track and field athletes could ever dream of, being ranked the best in Canada.
Natalie Thompson, a Grade 11 student at Notre Dame High School (NDHS) and member of the Lakeland Yellow Jackets Club, was ranked No. 1 in under 18 women's triple jump after an outstanding 11-metre 70-centimetre jump at the Alberta Indoor Games in February.
"I was in shock; I was really not expecting that. I was just overwhelmed, proud, and happy to see that my work was paying off," said Thompson.
The news came to her, after learning she had also broken a meet record, and surpassed the provincial record by 10 cm. It's an impressive feat for the high school track star, who wasn't expecting to be breaking records so quickly.
"I definitely didn't think I would be at this ranking and where I am, because I really only started specializing in it last year. My goal last year was just to make it to legions, so on the national team, and I did. I wasn't expecting to be on top, so it's really good to see how that worked out."
Thompson started her path in track and field in Grade 5, running cross country at Dr. Bernard Brosseau School. Placing second in the competition that year prompted her to join the Yellow Jackets.
"When I was younger, I went in different events to try out new things, see what my strengths and weaknesses were," noted Thompson.
After winning the provincial triple jump title in both Grade 9 and 10, together with her coach, Larry Godziuk, they decided it was time for Thompson to focus her efforts on the event she was most dominant in.
"It was a bit by surprise. She was on the summer games team a couple years ago and they wanted someone from our zone to do triple jump and they suggested she do it. She did very well and she's just excelled since then," recalled Godziuk. "When we're looking for kids who can high jump, long jump, or triple jump, you're looking for someone with a spring in their step and it's not for everyone. Triple jump in particular is physically demanding, she has that natural spring in her step."
Since honing in on triple jump, Thompson has been training diligently both before and after school. She fits in two to three triple jump practices per week, along with days of workouts dedicated to making her jumps stronger and more powerful.
"It's kind of like long jump, except this one has a hop, step, and jump. So you jump off your right foot and land on it again. After, you step landing on your left foot, then landing in the sand like a long jump," Thompson explained, noting it can be "really hard on the joints," which she takes into account when planning her training regime.
Godziuk added, "Since she's started to excel at it I've given her a little extra work to do outside of our track practices, and she does it diligently. She's gotten faster, stronger, and I give her new things all the time to try and get better."
When it comes to competition day, Thompson spends at least an hour warming up, including stretches, drills, sprints, and triple jump specific jumps "to get the right joints in place."
Since putting in the extra time for practice, keeping up with work, life, school and athletics has been the biggest challenge for the Grade 11 triple jump star.
"There's school, working out, track practice, there's family and helping out around the house, and work; just balancing it all and making sure I get that time in (to practice) and making that time focused."
That time has certainly been paying off for Thompson, who's getting opportunities across Canada and beyond thanks to her triple jump skills. Ultimately, she's hoping it will lead into a post-secondary route that will allow her to pursue triple jump alongside her studies.
"I have placed a short term goal and that's to take home a medal from nationals in Manitoba. My long term goal would be like any track and field athlete's, to be in the Olympics."
Regardless of what the future brings, Thompson has a lot to be proud of at a young age, and a team behind her cheering her on and helping her to succeed.
"Right now, she has the furthest jump of girls her age this year, and that's a pretty big accomplishment since we're from the little town of Bonnyville," said Godziuk. "I'm really proud of her and her hard work. She's been pretty dedicated the last two years and it shows in her results."
NDHS principal Pamela Guilbault added, "We are so proud to claim her as an éNDH student. Natalie's athleticism is only one attribute of the excellence that she shows in all that she accomplishes - truly the sky is the limit for her."
Thompson is currently preparing to transition into the outdoor season, which she explained is the "biggest season for a track and field athlete." She'll be training for high school provincials, nationals, and has her sights set on possibly the Commonwealth Games.
