The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Last year on the third-place podium, he made a promise to himself to take Gold next year. Danny Suchaplas worked all year to bring the Creighton Community School team's Gold medal home from the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association's Track and Field Provincials this season. Coming in first in the junior boy's shot put, Danny brought home the team's only medal. "We are absolutely elated we were able to bring home a Gold," said running coach Ryan Trumbley, noting all the coaches were "really happy with the weekend" in Prince Albert. Out of roughly 1,500 athletes, seven of the Creighton Kodiaks were able to finish in the top 10 of the province in a number of events. Looking at the roster, the Kodiaks will only be seeing a few faces graduate this year Ð which means the majority of the team is eligible to return. "We are glad we have a core group of athletes that can follow through for next year," said jumping coach Janel Pearson. "We are only missing two next year, of the 10 that came to Provincials." When it comes to Track and Field, both the athletes and the coaches agreed that the most important thing is to set a personal best (PB) record. It doesn't matter, they say, if you win the race or earn the Gold, all that matters is how you do personally. All 10 of the athletes from Creighton Community School earned PBs this past weekend in at least one of their events. "We can only ask that the last race of the season be a PB," says Trumbley. "And it all ended with great results." The talk of the team was Danny, for much of the weekend, as he humbly kept his medal tucked away for safe keeping. "He's been preparing for this all year," says Pearson. "He's been focused and it shows. The extra effort, that's where it came from," she said. "He pushed himself." The Gold medal attitude carried through for Danny has he already has plans on how to improve for next year. Next up were the running athletes. Between them, they earned four top 10 finishes. The Track and Field season is short enough as it is, but the coaches say not having a real track can really put the athletes at a disadvantage. "But we're really impressed overall considering we don't have a track," said coach Trumbley. Out of the eight athletes eligible to return next year, Pearson says all have shown an interest in coming back for another year. One athlete, Lloyd Kawa, has been on the Track and Field team from the start, three years ago. Entering as a Grade 11 student this year and making an appearance at his third Provincial championship, he says it's been a good experience. "I'm happy I went," he said. Going back to what the coaches said about gaining PBs, Lloyd said it's a "great to get a PB at Provincials. You feel like you have actually accomplished something and you don't have to get a Gold to do your best." Lloyd has one track season left before the end of his high school career and he hopes to make it a good one. With plans of sprinting and track camps this summer, he hopes to shave some time off his 800-meter run as well as gain a few inches on his long jump. As a team, Trumbley says the athletes contributed more points to the North East district this year. With only nine points coming from the team last year, Danny beat that with his Gold on Friday morning. Overall, the Kodiaks contributed 16 points to the total. It's an "intense" season and the athletes and coaches feel "burned out" at the end, but according to Pearson, it's worth it. Similar to Lloyd, his sister Krystal said the meet was a good experience, fun and well worth it. Throwing athlete Morgan Grant said she noticed the difference in competition to be a lot harder from districts, which took place in Melfort in May. For Krystal, she says her best event was the hurdles while Morgan liked the javelin better. "It was a good experience and I'm going to do better next year," says Morgan. Jonah Pretzer, who competed in the discus event last year as well, did well for himself this time. Coming in 23rd last year, Jonah was able to throw for a 10th place finish. "I'm very impressed and happy with that," he said. "I had an excellent time because I was able to get over my nerves, which was more than last year." Also chipping in on the PB standings, Cory Dupre was able to run his PB, which he credited to his coaches.
