Legion track and field camp welcomes nearly 200 athletes

The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command is kicking off its annual track and field camp.

This year, 192 athletes from across the province are registered to compete, with the help of 19 coaches.

Carter Tuplin from Swift Current is one of those athletes.

This is his second year coming to the camp. Last year he went to nationals, and Tuplin said he hopes to return this year.

“If I make it, I want to run my 400-metre hurdles in 46 seconds, somewhere in there. That’s my goal,” he said.

He said he’s following in the footsteps of his father, who also ran hurdles when he was in high school.

Tuplin said staying mentally tough and getting through bad days are some of his biggest challenges. To get through those hard times, he said he relies on family and track friends he’s made over the years.

“Stay focused. Always remind yourself of your goal and why you’re there,” he said.

The athletes at the camp can learn every track event, including sprints, hurdles, long-distance running and throwing events like shot put, javelin and discus. Later in the week they get to specialize in their chosen events.

The Legion started the camp in 1966 and has held an event every year since with the exceptions of 1972 when no facility was available, and in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Carol Pedersen is the provincial president of the Royal Canadian Legion and co-chair of the track and field committee. She said she’s been involved with the camp since 1995, when she started as a chaperon.

She said being around the kids is the best part.

“You get energized,” she said. “It’s wonderful to spend a week with youth.”

Besides learning about the importance of fitness and leadership, Pedersen said she hopes the kids leave with an appreciation for the Legion and veterans as well.

“The camp was started by World War II veterans who gave their youth for a better life for today’s youth,” said Pedersen.

“We are trying to offer a small bit of that better life.”

This year, 60 athletes are sponsored in full by Legion branches across the province, Pedersen said.

Returning to the camp is a full-circle moment for head coach Kelly Wells, who took part in the camp as a kid. Wells has been an event coach since 1998, and head coach for three years.

He said one of the camp’s priorities is to get the kids to appreciate what track and field can do for them.

“Hopefully along the way they fall in love with it and become life-long track athletes,” he said.

Twenty-five qualifying athletes will be chosen to represent Saskatchewan at the Legion’s national track and field championships hosted in Sherbrooke, Que. in August.

Wells said having a good attitude is just as important as athletic ability.

“We’re looking for character in these athletes to make sure that when we send them across the country we know we are sending the best representatives of our province,” he said.

The camp runs from Tuesday until Saturday, and is open to youths born between 2006 and 2010.