When the 2010 East Central Districts (ECD) of track and field get going at Kinsmen Century Field later today, there will be provincial seedings up for grabs for nearly every single participating athlete.
Sacred Heart High School's (SHHS) Olivia Blenner-Hassett is one of the distance runners who's got her sights on qualifying for the provincials which will be held in June.
"I'm physically ready," states Blenner-Hassett, beaming with both confidence and enthusiasm about the meet that takes over Century Field starting at 2 p.m., today (May 26) and winding up tomorrow night.
"I usually don't get nervous until right before (the race starts)."
Blenner-Hassett, who is likely a little young to know exactly what she wants to be when she gets older, sounds like she'd make a pretty good science or physics teacher when talking about the technical stuff regarding how she plans to run her race.
"I think of a strategy," she told the paper like it was something military classified. "Running the 800-metre, I learned a lot about track strategy."
She said she will be running in both the 400-m and 800-metre races and her biggest competition will probably come from YRHS runner Avery Westberg.
Blenner-Hassett said she plans to start off the long distance race at a slower pace and then pick up speed near the end of the heat.
Her goal is to try and conserve energy and then let it all go once the finish line gets closer."For the last 100-metres, I definitely go all out. The 800-m is the hardest race" of the two, she said.
She's going into the ECDs in good shape. She's trained all winter at the Yorkton Legion, sometimes as many as four times a week. Her training focuses mostly on strength and core training as well as distance running.
Blenner-Hassett said there is some pressure heading into the one and only track meet for Yorkton students, so she clearly has high hopes for herself.
She also looks at the flip side of the coin, as do her coaches, that the meet is also one of the best times she's going to have as a team and that the main benefit is that it's a good way to stay in shape and have some fun too.
"Districts is pressure to qualify for the provincial meet," she acknowledged in a an interview hours before she'd be getting ready for one last practice run at Century Field before the long weekend.
She credited SHHS track co-coach Rachel Sterzuk for helping her along with training and making her want to work harder.
"She's very helpful, says student of her coach. "She's very supportive. It's all about staying in shape and having fun."
Last year, as a Gr. 10 student, Blenner-Hassett completed the 400-metre run in 1:02, a personal best for her that should hold up to win at districts later today.
In her 800-metre relay, she posted a time of 2:32. She said she will be looking to cut 4-5 seconds off of that finish in order to equal her personal best.
In the 1500-metre relay, she has a time of 5:40 which was enough for a third-place finish last year.
"It's all worth it," says Blenner-Hassett at the end of the day. "I'm very optimistic (but) I definitely want to get a provincial medal."
The Sacred Heart Saints will join the Yorkton Regional High School Raiders, as well as elementary school students from all over the city today and tomorrow starting today at 2 p.m.
Blenner-Hassett's schedule includes races at 3:05 p.m., today for the 400-metre, and tomorrow morning at 11:10 for the 200-metre, before closing out with the 800-metre relay at 12:40.
