Athletes of the Cochrane Endurance Project (CEPR) returned with six medals and numerous personal best times (PB) in their first meet of the young outdoor track season.

There were several outstanding performances at the UCAC Calgary Spring Challenge, May 10-12, that acted as a tune-up for their high school divisional championships this week.

"They really knocked it out of the park," says CEPR head coach Travis Cummings. "Our athletes are looking very, very strong right now. It's going to be an exciting season."

Medalists were:

  • Raimo Sollitt, silver and PB, U18 men's 2,000m Steeplechase
  • Ryden Bruce, gold in his first steeple ever, U16 boys 1,500m Steeplechase
  • Zoe Bushrod, bronze, U16 girls 1,500m steeplechase
  • Kayley Torrie, gold and PB, U18 girls 1,500m
  • Frankie Wiest, bronze, in her first,1,200m, U16 girls
  • Frankie Wiest, silver in her first 2k, U16 girls

There were many other strong performances and PBs.

Coach BobbiJo Waite-Lang placed ninth in the women's 1,500m. She will be representing Canada at the World Master's Track & Field Championships in Sweden in August, she has recently joined the Endurance Project's coaching team.

Jacob White recorded personal bests in the men's open 200m and 400m. He's coming back from nearly 2yrs of health issues.

"It was great to see him racing again," says Cummings.

Other finishes were:

  • Csenia Irvin - Women's 800m - 11th
  • Avlea Irvin - U18 Girls 800m - 11th PB 
  • Ellie Barlow - U18 Girls 1,500m and 3,000m - 12th 1,500m, 4th 3,000m 
  • Eli Torrie - U18 Boys 1500m - 4th PB 
  • Ryden Bruce - U16 Boys 1200m - 7th PB 
  • Frankie Wiest - U16 Girls 300m - 14th 300m (1st 300m)
  • Roman Lang - U18 Boys 800m - 7th PB 

After divisional, zone and provincial high school meets, Endurance Project athletes with be competing in the CALTAF Track Classic, June 14-16, which will serve as the trial meet for Team Alberta for the Western Canadian Challenge (formerly Tri-Provs) being held in Winnipeg in July. Several of our athletes will be attempting to achieve berths on this team in the U16, U18, and U23 age categories. 

Elsewhere, Endurance Project athlete Caden Jones will be contesting the New Brunswick high school provincial championships in a few weeks. Senior athletes Clay Grattidge and Jessica Kaiser will be competing at the Harry Jerome Track Classic in mid-June, followed by the Olympic trials in Montreal, June 26-30, in their respective disciplines. 

JessicaJessica Kaiser ran a huge personal best at the Pacific Distance Carnival. (photo.Victoria Track Classic)

Grattidge just opened up his outdoor track season in the Netherlands representing Canada, narrowly missing a PB in the 400m. Jessica Kaiser ran a big PB in the 1,500m at the Pacific Distance Carnival in Coquitlam, B.C. on May 11. 

Cummins says they have a few spots available in their age class program. Those interested can inquire at cochraneenduranceproject@gmail.com.