The legacy of Lloydminster runner Alex Giesbrecht gained even more laps — and gold medals — at the Saskatchewan high school track and field provincials last weekend in Moose Jaw.
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The Grade 9 student from Holy Rosary High School ran personal bests in both the intermediate boys’ 1,500 and 3,000-metre races as he won both events in decisive fashion.
What’s more, the Raiders’ sensation did so in adverse weather conditions and without comparable competition of his calibre.
“I was a little bit nervous when I got there, but the atmosphere and the energy at the event was really good,” said Giesbrecht, who turns 15 on June 23.
He came close to setting provincial records, finishing 10 seconds shy of the Saskatchewan best in each case.
“I think if the wind and smoke weren’t there, I could have had (those records),” Giesbrecht said.
“It was very surreal, winning two golds, but I still wish there was somebody there that could have pushed me to run faster.”
That’s the high school reality for Giesbrecht, who will see tougher competition in club track this summer as he steps into provincial and national meets.
In Moose Jaw, his results were as flashy as his orange cleats.
In the 1,500m on Friday, he got off to a “really fast” start and maintained that pace the rest of the way to prevail in four minutes 23.22 seconds, slashing nine seconds off his previous best.
Matthew Heidel of North Battleford finished second in 4:30.68, while Lake Lenore’s Mason Strueby took the bronze in 4:30.68.
As freak weather hit the province Saturday, athletes had more than opponents to contend with for the final day of the meet.
For his 3,000-metre race Saturday, “it was insanely windy and smoky, but I still got a personal best by 17 seconds,” said Giesbrecht, who posted a time of 9:31.37.
“I think I could have run a much faster time, even more, if the wind and smoke wasn’t there.”
The silver medallist in the 3,000m was Matthew Quiring (10:02.92) of
Carlton in Prince Albert. Third place went to Heidel (10:03.55), the runner-up in the 1,500m.
Regardless of the level of competition he might have faced along the way, three meets in as many weeks has helped Giesbrecht gear up for a big summer.
“This sets me up really good, as I have learnt so many new strategies from all of these races I have had this past month,” he said. “With all the races, the mileage really adds up and it’s helped me — and continues to help me — improve a lot.”
In all three spring meets (cities, district and provincials), Giesbrecht sported his new running shoes, size 11 Nike Dragonfly 2s.
“I have had them for three months and raced in them for the first time at
cities, but trained in them for a while before that,” he said. “They feel very comfortable, very cushioned and bouncy.”
He chose orange cleats because they were on sale and that’s the colour of his club track jerseys with the Split City Sonics.
RAIDERS ALSO GOLDEN
IN CALGARY
Giesbrecht was the lone Raider to medal at the Saskatchewan provincials, but two other Holy Rosary students reached the top of the podium at the Alberta high school track and field provincials on the same weekend in Calgary.
In their respective senior divisions, the Raiders’ Ini Idiong captured gold in discus, while his sister Mfonma did likewise in shot put.
Next year, Giesbrecht intends to compete in the Alberta provincials in what will be his first season of eligibility as a high school athlete. He’s already familiar with Alberta running from his club meets.
“I like the competition more in Alberta,” he said. “We’re all really close together. We all run pretty close to the same times.
“Last year, I finished second in the province, for Alberta, in the indoor season. I lost to this guy from Cochrane by one second, and that pushed me to do better.”
Giesbrecht is headed to a June 20-22 meet in Calgary, the CALTAF Classic, in a bid to qualify for Team Alberta for this summer’s Legion nationals and the Western Canada Team Challenge.
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