MEDICINE HAT, AB – For local hurdler Sage Watson, the 2018 track and field season was a learning experience like no other.
Fresh off her first year on the professional circuit, Watson is training hard for what she’s hoping will be a big 2019 campaign.
Back in Medicine Hat on Saturday to take part in the ‘Brews for Shoes’ fundraiser at Hell’s Basement Brewery, Watson said she’s getting set for one of the biggest years of her life competitively.
Just over a year out from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the biggest race on the calendar this year for the Seven Persons speedster will be the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Watson said she’s determined to reach the podium on the world’s biggest stage outside of the Olympics, as she earned a sixth place finish in the 400 metre hurdles two years ago.
Heading into the 2019 campaign it seems as though the track and field publication ‘The Track and Field News’ has taken notice, ranking Watson eighth overall in the world standings.
On the ranking, Watson said it’s quite the honour but is hungry for more.
“It’s always definitely the goal to get my rankings higher and higher,” said Watson. “To come out at number eight this year was really exciting, but of course I want to be at the top. So, I’m going to keep hopefully climbing that rankings ladder and get to the top.”
Ahead of the 2019 World Championships in late September, Watson will also be a member of Team Canada’s 4×400 metre relay team at the 2019 World Relays event in Japan in May.
CHAT Sports spoke with Watson what races she’s looking forward to in 2019 and what it will take to put herself on the podium.
