MEDICINE HAT – The fastest teens in the Bow Valley would not be denied the podium at the biggest track and field meet of the year.
At the 2022 ASAA Provincial Track and Field Championships in Medicine Hat, Banff’s Anson Minty sprinted to bronze in the junior boys' 200-metre dash, and Canmore’s Kahlen Anderson raced to bronze in the junior girls 3,000m.
The conditions were perfect for the 200m finals on June 3, when Minty, who honed his speed on the soccer pitch, struggled out of the start, but managed to catch up and secure bronze at 23.35 seconds – 0.44 seconds behind first.
“I had a slow start to the race out of the blocks, but when it actually came down to running I felt I was pretty good,” said the 15-year-old sprinter. “I was covering my distance pretty well. All-in-all, I felt I did good, but I could have done better.”
The speedy Banff Bear competed in the 100m dash on June 4 as well, crossing the line in fourth place at a time of 11.82 seconds - 0.33 seconds behind first.
He said a sore quad from the qualifying heat earlier in the day affected his running in the fast and furious sprint.
“Going out there and not being able to give it your all, it sucks, but it’s part of the sport, so you have to get used to it,” Minty said.
With about 500m left in the 3,000m race, Anderson, who had been pacing in the secondary pack, had a speed burst and pulled ahead into third place, charging for the finish line.
A spot on the podium spoken for as the Grade 10 Canmore Wolverine won bronze at 11:18, a personal best.
“While I was running with other girls, I just tried to maintain a good position within the race,” said Anderson. “I made a good decision when I decided to go at the end and I created a gap between me and the other girls that they weren’t able to close.”
Anderson, who's on the junior provincial triathlon team, finished about 17 seconds behind gold medal winner, Kate Hos.
In the senior girls' 3,000m, Canmore’s Tabitha Williams placed seventh at a time of 12:15.26.
