2011 STL-TFC Annual Awards
On September 14, 2011 St. Thomas Legion Track and Field Club held our Award Banquet at the Legion hall – Branch # 41.
Congratulations to all of our 2011 Awards winners:
- Best Midget: Noah Rolpf
- Best Youth: Charles Nguyen
- Best Junior: Gordie Mitchie
- Best Senior: Matt Brisson
- Sportmanship Award: Ally Gonzalez
- Most Improved: Alysha Matthews
- Rookie of the Year: Jake Dunbar
Parkside Track & Field Improvements Complete
It was a long time coming and there were some days when we doubted this day would ever arrive. After 3 years of deliberations, creation of project committees, meetings, plans, fundraising, proposals , more planning and the actual construction, we are finally here. The renovations and upgrades to the Parkside Collegiate track & field facility are complete.
Parkside’s track now has a new and improved surface with the front straightway being expanded to 8 lanes. The field areas were also improved with new runway surfaces, an expanded high jump apron, and new boxed-in sand pits for long & triple jump.
Even though we will soon be preparing for the 2012 indoor season, with Parkside’s facility being the Club’s home for outdoor training, we can’t help but be excited about next spring when we can finally get back to “business as usual” with all the added perks!
World Youth Championships
Harry & Charles Attend The World Youth Championships
Attending the World Youth Championships held in Lille, France this past July was an incredible experience for both coach Harry Stantsos and athlete Charles Nguyen. Each had a different perspective, but the excitement of recapping their adventure is the same.
Having grown up in Europe, Harry has been to this type of meet before as a spectator and an athlete, but this time he was returning as a coach – a priviledge and an honour that he doesn’t take lightly. “To work with World class athletes in this setting and to network with other coaches from other countries was an amazing opportunity”.
Charles attended as an athlete in the hammer throw. This was his first National team experience, and hopefully the first of many more to come. Charles had the opportunity to see our sport on the World stage, to see what is out there, soaking in every moment, returning with more enthusiasm and motivation to improve in his events. “I’m so pumped, I’m going to get faster and stronger – I can’t wait”.
While travelling with the National team, Harry and Charles also had the opportunity to visit Vimy Ridge on an organized team excursion. It was an extraordinary day of learning and appreciation of our Canadian war veterans to see the trenches first hand and to walk through the underground tunnels. Harry felt the trip inspired the athletes to want to train even harder and perform at their best.
Both Harry and Charles made many new friends during their travels representing Canada on the World stage and returned with some awesome memories that will last a lifetime.
Jim Young: 1914-2011
Our Club, and the St. Thomas and London track & field community suffered a great loss recently. By now many of you have heard via the media or social networks of Jim Young’s passing Aug 2, 2011.
Jim meant many different things to so many athletes and coaches over the years. Whether you knew him from his “younger” days or recently in his final years, one thing is for certain – he was a constant in our track & field world. It just didn’t feel like a bonafide track meet if Jim wasn’t there on the sidelines cheering athletes on with coaching cues like, “Stay tall…Use your arms…Knees up…”. He gave 110% of himself and inspired everyone else to do the same.
When we say good-bye to Jim on August 20th, that certainly won’t be the end. Jim left behind a legacy of passion for the sport in every athlete or coach that had the honour of knowing him. Many have moved on to other parts of the world, with new lives, new families, new careers, but all will forever remember Jim as one of those very special persons in their lives that inspired them to run faster, jump higher, throw farther and always strive to do their best, whether that was on the track or in the everyday rat race of life.
I could say so more as could so many other people but I will stop here and include another message from a former STL athlete/coach who also wanted to express her gratitude to Jim.
~ Harry Stantsos
Track and Field Community says Goodbye to a Gem
“Jim Young was a constant positive presence for thousands of track and field athletes. There are no words to convey an appropriate THANK YOU for how much he gave of himself to our community for decades. Long after his own children had grown and moved on he continued to be a coach and voice for local athletes; he was the man that we all heard as we rounded the bend on the 200m mark. Jim knew every athlete and every time they clocked and he never forgot a moment.
Jim’s passion for the sport and willingness to help always came through with a smile and with inclusion. No matter whom you were or what high school and background you came from he was there for you. Every high school in this town has benefited from his presence. When a coach was needed, you didn’t have to ask, he always knew and helped. He was not only on the pulse but he was the heart of track and field for many local athletes.
The word ‘coach’ does not begin to summarize what Jim gave to athletes. For those of us who ran with the St.Thomas Legion Track and Field Club he was more than a voice on the 200m corner. For us, he shared his constant smile while providing ice, heat, massage, running times, advice and gummy worms. He knew what you needed before you knew what you needed! He was a chaperone, referee, counsellor and often surrogate parent. Jim got us to the start line and finish line with more than team pride but family pride. Whether it was morning or night Jim would meet you at any track or any park for a workout. When he couldn’t run any longer he stood for hours, and when he couldn’t stand he sat, but he was always with you. He completely shared everything he had and never did he ask for anything in return.
Jim Young was a powerful presence and loved by many. For those of us who have gone on to be coaches or just parents on the side-line his smile and positive voice will live on through all of us.”
Thank you Jim.
~ Jennifer (Jenn) M. Jakobi, PhD
Canadian Youth Championships Raps the Outdoor Season
The competitive outdoor season is over after the team traveled to compete at the Royal Canadian Youth Championships in Ottawa on the weekend.
St.Thomas Legion TFC sent 5 athletes to the meet. We returned back with one silver medal, 3 personal bests and valuable experience for the future. The silver medal belongs to Charles Nguyen in the Hammer Throw. Charles had a great year full of excitement and great results and capturing the Silver medal at the Canadian Championships was the icing on the cake. He also placed 7th in the Discus throw. Riley Bell placed 7th in the long jump and 10th in the Triple Jump. Makeisha Bobb placed 11thin a very strong field in the 300m Hurdles with the time of 46.10 which was a Personal best and in 100m Hurdles with the time of 15.27. Corey Squires also placed 11th. in the 300mH running a respectable time of 40.97 and finally Jake Dunbar placed 11thin the 200m Hurdles in the Midget boys category with a personal best time 29.39.
Matt Brisson returns home with a Bronze
As we predicted, Matt Brisson returned home from Calgary where he competed at the Canadian Senior Championships.He Captured the Bronze medal in the 110m hurdles.
Congratulations Matt!
Matt Brisson at the Senior Canadian Championships
Matt Brisson will be traveling to Calgary AB for the Canadian Senior Championships this upcoming weekend. He will be competing in the 110m Hurdles. He is ranked #5 going in to the competition with a good chance of him winning a medal. He is also on to try and make the standard for the National team to compete at the Student Games this October in Shenzhen, China.
Matt had a great indoor season competing with the University of Western Ontario Track & Field team, which he won the 60 m Hurdles at the Canadian University Championships, and he is continuing his efforts to make the National team while training and competing with the St. Thomas Legion Track and Field Club.
All Athletes and coaches wish Matt all the best for this weekend and for all the competitions in the future.
Charles Nguyen to the Worlds with a great Hammer toss
It was a matter of time when Charles would make the standard for making the National team to compete at the World Youth Championships next month in Lille, France. That time is here.
Last Saturday at a Throws meet in London he accomplished that task. He threw a personal best of 63.51m in the Hammer Throw and at the same time he established a new the Provincial record by over a meter (previous record was 62.50m) and by surpasing the 62m barrier which was the official standard set by Athletics Canada to insure him a spot in to the National team to France.
