BURIN, N.L — For the second year running Olivia Ryan of Burin Bay Arm has been named to the Legion National Youth Track and Field team.
The team is supported by the Royal Canadian Legion.
Ryan finished in first place following the 100m and 200m event, as well as second in the long jump during Legion Provincial Championships held July 13-14 to secure her place on the team.
“I’m pretty happy to be selected,” she told The Southern Gazette on July 18. “It’s my second year going to this event in Manitoba, and this year was my first year in the youth category. I was the younger part of the age group, so I am happy that I made it.”
The 16-year-old said it hasn’t been confirmed yet what events she will be competing in, but hopes she will be taking part in the 100m, 200m and long jump.
To get ready for the event Ryan is doing a lot of running both at the Track and Field Complex in Marystown and on town roads.
“I’ll do hill sprints and I’ll do sprint repeats on the track,” she explained. “I’ll probably try and do some practice long jump runs on the long jump at the track.”
Ryan also plays soccer, which she said is good endurance training.
Going into the event, she does not have any expectations.
“I’m just hoping to get some personal bests,” Ryan said. “It would be amazing if I got a medal, but the competition there is really tough so, if I can just get a personal best I’ll be happy."
Currently her personal best in the 100m is 12.99 seconds, a time she set at the provincial high school championships.
She also set a personal best in the 200m finishing in a time of 27.12 seconds.
Ryan will be entering Grade 11 at Marystown Central High School in September, but she is already looking forward to returning to the track and field team.
“If we have one I will.”
colin.farrell@ southerngazette.ca
