ANTIGONISH, N.S. — Five Antigonish runners are part of the 2019 Nova Scotia/Nunavut Legion Track and Field Team which will be competing at the national event in Sydney, Aug. 9 to 11.
Mairin Canning, Siona Chisholm, Anna Robinson and sisters Malia and Mya Artibello have made the team after qualifying during a provincial competition in Stellarton earlier this month.
Four of the athletes met with the Casket just prior to a workout session July 24; Anna was unavailable on the day.
Mairin will be competing in the U-18 2,000 metre (m) steeplechase and the 1,500; Siona in the U-18 3,000 m and 1,500 m and the Artibello sisters, sixteen-year-old Malia in the 800 m and fourteen-year-old Mya in the 300 m, with both, possibly, running in relay events.
For Mairin, Siona and Malia this will be their second consecutive Legion nationals after competing last year in Brandon, Manitoba.
Asked about expectations for the event, each athlete noted setting their sights on achieving personal best (PB) times as a focus.
“Instead of worrying about a placing, it’s more about running your own race, as fast as you can,” Mairin said.
Siona, who recently finished first for female runners in the Antigonish Highland Games Five-Mile Road Race, talked about PBs and “trying to stick with the top few runners” in her events.
“It’s going to be harder this year as I move up in age group, but I’m also excited to race against faster people and more competition,” she said, adding that the Legion nationals offer the opportunity for an athlete to push and challenge themselves.
“It’s just good to see this competition,” Siona said. “The more competitors, the more it prepares you for the cross country season … the bigger races ahead.”
“It’s great to get a lot of good competition and bring that into the cross-country season,” Mairin added.
Mya is looking forward to her first nationals.
“I’ve never been to a meet this big,” she said. “So it will definitely help prepare me for big races in the future.”
All four talked about having the national event only a few hours away in Sydney.
“We ran on the track last year; that is where the provincials were,” Malia said. “So it’s familiar.”
“It’s not as big a change as Manitoba was,” Siona said. “We’re used to the weather and running in the conditions there.”
“And it’s nice when you can have all your family and friends there supporting you,” Mairin added.
Head coach for the team is Steve Morley.
“What started as a group of individuals throwing, jumping, sprinting and running, will come together in Sydney and form a team, with friendships created that will last a lifetime,” he said, in a release which announced the team.
“The athletes don’t do this by themselves. Many hours have been spent by parents, coaches and volunteers to help make them strong enough to be named to this team in 2019.”
Morley talked about the partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion.
“We wouldn't have an event without them,” he said.
“I look to the Royal Canadian Legion and the athletes with equal pride for the dedication they put forth each summer. It is my hope that we can forge the bonds of friendship, among athletes
and legionnaires alike.”
