Sask. athletes heading across the world for first major competition since COVID

For the next week, Huskies head track and field coach Jason Reindl is excited to have a new title — coach for Team Canada.

A team of 14 athletes from the University of Saskatchewan is travelling to Nairobi, Kenya to compete in the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships — the biggest track and field competition in the world for 18 and 19-year-olds in the sport.

Reindl, who competed in track and field himself as a Husky, is excited to be bringing the team to another continent to compete.

“It’s been a two-year building process here with the roadblocks of COVID in the way so I’m pretty excited to put on the Canadian jacket again and support the athletes,” Reindl said.

“Just having the opportunity to get at this type of event, see what athletes and coaches are doing gives me the opportunity to learn and continue to bring things back to Saskatoon and Saskatchewan and the Husky program.”

The young team is strong and ready to represent Canada and Saskatchewan in the event, Reindl said. The roster includes two Saskatchewan names: Avery Pearson from Meadow Lake and Saskatoon’s Savannah Sutherland.

Pearson will compete in the 800-metre and 4×400 metre relay races. Sutherland, who is ranked eighth in the world in the 400-metre hurdles, could have a chance at bringing a medal home.

“They’re excited. They’re really chomping at the bit to wear the Team Canada singlet, compete against the best in the world and show that their hard work over the last 18 months … what they’re able to do,” Reindl explained.

“We’re excited to see what they can do, knowing that for a lot of them, this is their first national team opportunity, first experience wearing the Canadian singlet. And that in itself is something that gets them quite motivated to pursue their best.”

The world competition comes on the heels of the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, where Canada set a record for the most medals won in a non-boycotted games year with 24 collective awards. Reindl said this definitely has influenced his athletes.

“We just had our first training session in Toronto,” he said. “There were four Olympians on the track, there were a bunch of Paralympians getting ready to depart later this week, and so there’s still a definite buzz in the air.

“Given Canada’s success in Tokyo, we are hoping we can continue to build on that momentum and show we are a track-and-field nation.”

Reindl said the athletes, all of whom have received both vaccinations, were required to complete multiple COVID-19 tests prior to travelling and upon arrival in Kenya, as well as every 48 hours afterward. The team will be in a true “bubble” that includes only their hotel and competition space throughout their time in Africa.