By Mitch Bach

VIDEO: Track athletes raising the bar ahead of City Championships and Zones

May 10, 2017 | 4:13 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Track and field season is alive and well at Crescent Heights High School.

For yet another year, the Medicine Hat Rotary Track has seen a large influx of young athletes training this season. Many of which are revving their practices into high gear as City Championships for both senior varsity and junior varsity approach.

And two Vikings are setting the bar very high.

Grade 12 pole vaulter Rylly Quirante is already clearing heights rivaling the best in Alberta, while Grade 10 long-distance runner Bethany Regier is hoping to reach the provincial championship for the first time.

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“I started off at like two meters (in Grade 10),” said Quirante, who finished 9th in the ASAA Provincial Championship last year despite rolling his ankle during the warm-up. “Last year I ended up hitting three meters, which is a big jump for me which was nice. That was in zones, and that’s what brought me to provincials.”

Earlier this year, Quirante and track coach Mike Peterson attended a training clinic in Calgary. Although the senior Viking’s forte is pole vault, Peterson says most of the clinic focused on other track sports Quirante competes in.

“Instead of doing pole vault, I had him do triple jump and long jump,” said Peterson, who began coaching pole vault for the Vikings four years ago. “Just from working with Jane that one day, it improved his stride and consistency here. Leaps and bounds for him.”

Quirante’s 9th place finish in provincials last year came after clearing 2.5 meters. Although he says simply making the provincial championship again is enough of an accomplishment, a podium finish isn’t out of the question.

“Hopefully second or third… that’d be awesome,” he smiled. “Actually any top three in provincials would be amazing for me.”

While Quirante enters the season already primed with provincial-level experience, Regier is entering her first year of potentially competing among the best in Alberta.

The junior varsity athlete competes in four different long-distance events including the 400m, 800m and 1500m. But she says her specialty is the 3000m.

“You just have to have really good stamina,” said Regier. “I’m also a swimmer, so stamina comes with that. Then you have to just settle into your race and go with it.”

The JV Viking clocked the 2nd best time for the 3000m in South Zones two years ago. She followed that up with a 3rd place performance last year. The top two from each event make the provincial cut.

She says it’ll take a lot more practice to qualify this year, but her three years of experience has taught her a thing or two about racing that beginners might lack.

“Just to keep my pace and not rely on what other people are doing so I don’t tire myself out,” she added. “Then just what my body is doing and how my positioning is and stuff.”

A few key dates to keep in mind — Senior High City Championships are set for May 16th with Zones on May 25th in Lethbridge. Junior High City’s are on May 24th with Zones set for May 31st.