Brandon Sun - 09/24/2016
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THE BRANDON SUN • SATUR
B2 • SPORTS
Legion nationals on track for success
BY CHRIS JASTER
Brian Marshall and Angela Doyle
(nee Chalmers) helped put Brandon on
the Legion National Youth Track and
Field Championships map when they
competed in the event over 20 years ago.
Now it’s the city’s turn to shine as it
will host the competition in August of
2017 and 2018. Representatives of the
national organization committee which
oversees the project are in the Wheat
City to make sure all the preparations
are going as planned, and they seem
impressed even though there’s a lot of
work left to do.
“We’ve only been here a day, but
everything seems to be in place,” said
Danny Martin, the deputy director of
administration of the Legion’s
Dominion Command. “We have
enough experience to know whether
they have their act together.
“We had two people at last year’s
meet to see what the set standard is.
Barb (Andrew) is very familiar with that
and we’re here just in case she forgets
what it is. We haven’t had to remind
her. Barb is on top of things.”
Andrew, the local arrangements
chairperson, has been working hard to
make sure everything is getting ready,
with the biggest issue being the track at
UCT Stadium.
The rubberized surface, which was
initially installed in 1996 for the Canada
Summer Games, needed to be replaced
to meet IAAF standards. The project has
been delayed as new asphalt had to be
laid down as well — initially it was
hoped the old pad would be in good
enough shape — which means the new
rubber won’t be installed until the spring.
Sportsplex facility manager Jeff
Elliott didn’t want to take any risks with
the project and wants to make sure it’s
done properly and as economically as
possible.
Martin and the other members of the
national organizing committee were
impressed with the work that has been
done there so far as well as the dorms
at Brandon University, which will house
the Legion-sponsored athletes. The
hotels that have been booked for open
athletes in the competition and the
Barb Andrew, the local arrangements committee chairperson for the 2017 and 2018 Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships, shares a laugh with national committee members Leroy Washburn, Angus Stanfield and Danny Martin as well as Jeff
Elliott, the facility manager for the Sportsplex, on the UCT Stadium track during a press conference. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
transportation plans to get competitors
to and from the event.
There is also a concern about officials
as the 2017 Canada Games wraps up
in Winnipeg on Aug. 13 and organizers
aren’t sure if there will be enough in
Manitoba to do this event or if they’ll
have to bring some more from out of
province.
The national committee will sit down
with Andrew and her committee heads
today to go through more details, but
Andrew is happy with the initial
reviews.
“I think I’m more confident,” she
said. “The track was a concern but I’m
confident that Jeff will be on top of it
and everything will be fine.”
There’s still a lot of work to be done
before the event — which brings over
400 track and field athletes under the
age of 17 from all over Canada to
compete in the only national
championship event for people their age
— begins on Aug. 11. A new speaker
» WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY
system and more bleachers are needed
for the stadium. Elliott is looking for
cost-effective ways to meet those
standards, but once they’re fixed,
Martin expects a great spectator
experience.
“Once this is done, it will be a very
nice-looking facility,” he said. “With
this particular venue, anywhere that
you’re sitting, it’s all self contained and
that’s not always the case. Sometimes
that hammer cage you don’t see it.
When you’re in the stands, you can see
it and thats the beauty of a track and
field meet that’s self-contained, there’s
always something going on.”
With the subcommittees getting set,
there will be a call for a lot of
volunteers.
People can volunteer for helping with
registration, directing vehicles for
parking, working in the canteen or the
souvenir booth, raking the long jump
pits among other tasks.
Anyone interested in volunteering
may
contact
Andrew
at
[email protected] or by leaving a
message at the Royal Canadian Legion
Branch 3 in Brandon.
Martin said this event can’t fail — the
goal is to break even and allow young
athletes to compete on a national stage
— and based on what he’s seeing the
championships should be successful.
However, Andrew hopes this turns
into a legacy project as well.
“I’m hoping this is a catalyst to
reinterest the youth in southwest
Manitoba in track and field,” she said.
“I know there is a track club in
Neepawa, but there are so many young
people close to the city of Brandon.
Other than to come here for their school
track meet, that’s it. That’s as much as
they have and I know there’s interest.
“Hopefully this will spur some
coaches and athletes and bring track
and field back.”
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» Twitter: @jasterch
Canada, Russia set for showdown
TORONTO — Ryan Getzlaf
doesn’t remember a single thing
from Canada’s last matchup
with Russia in a tournament
featuring the best hockey
players
in the(c)2016
world.
Copyright
Brandon Sun, All Rights Reserved. Edition 09/24/2016
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» The
LOCAL ROUNDUP
VIKINGS VOLLEYBALL TEAMS REA
The Vincent Massey Vikings place
have advanced to today’s quarter-f
Manitoba High School Classic varsity b
The Vikings won six of eight sets
stopped set scores at 25. Massey beat
10) and Niverville 2-0 (25-19, 25-24) a
St. Paul’s 1-1 (23-25, 25-19) and Mi
24-25).Powered by TECNAVIA
Meanwhile, Massey topped its poo
event courtesy of a 2-0 (25-16, 25-19
(25-23, 25-17) win over John Taylo