The North East Alberta Track Club was presented with an award for being the top B club in the province in 2012 at a Feb. 9 banquet in Edmonton.
“They break clubs into two sections, A and B, the B section being clubs that have 30 or less members,” said Reg Green, NEAT head coach. “We’re proud of it obviously, the kids are pretty happy with it. It’s one of those awards that an individual doesn’t have to win, we just have to be all together and place well.”
NEAT also took part in the Alberta Indoor Games at the University of Alberta field house the same weekend, with four of the nine athletes earning top three finishes.
Nicole Kitt placed first in both the 1,500 metre and the 3,000 metre events, while Hayley Lucas of Cold Lake won the junior womens’ pentathlon, a five-event competition that tests the athletes’ running, throwing and jumping.
Eric Laramee managed second place in the junior mens’ pentathlon, and Dmitri Krys picked up third in the pentathlon for youth men.
Courtney Cole competed in the womens’ open category and managed a third place finish in the long jump, a fourth place finish in the pentathlon and sixth and eighth place finishes in the 60 metre hurdles.
Other local athletes at the meet included Rachel Abejero, who competed in the womens’ open 60 metre spring and long jump, picking up a seventh place finish in long jump.
Alycia Cole competed in the womens’ open category for shot put, high jump, 60 metre sprint and the 600 metre run.
Christian Laramee competed in the mens’ open and managed a seventh place finish in the 1,200 metre run and 10th in long jump.
Jocelyn Laramee managed fourth place finishes in the womens’ open long jump and shot put, as well as a 10th place finish in the 60 metre hurdles.
“I was really pleased,” Green said, adding that all of the athletes put forth strong performances.
Green said that since the club is located out of St. Paul, they do the majority of their winter training in the gymnasium and hallways of St. Paul Regional High School.
“It’s a rather interesting experience,” Green said, adding that NEAT competes against clubs from Edmonton and Calgary with greater access to indoor track and field facilities. “For us to be able to train and become somewhat proficient at things like high jump and long jump indoors, it’s interesting.”
Green added that Lucas and Kitt are currently putting their athletic skills to the test at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho at the Simplot Games. The Simplot Games hosts 1,900 to 2,000 athletes from 26 American States and two Canadian provinces.
“It’s a real strong mix of athletes,” Green said.
As of the Journal’s press deadline on Friday afternoon, Kitt qualified for the finals in the 3,200 metre run, and Lucas was in the midst of finals qualification for the high jump event.
Check next week’s edition of the Journal for results from the Simplot Games.
