Canada Day was particularly special for three athletes of the Cochrane Endurance Project after being selected to represent Team Alberta at the Tri Provincial Prairie Championships, July 22-24.

Caden Jones, Raimo Sollitt, and Nico Knoll will be competing in steeplechase, a track obstacle discipline.

Jones won silver in the U18 2k steeple at the Tri Provincial/Legion Trials in Edmonton on June 19 at the Foote Field Open and was a U16 steeple champion in 2021. He's now in his first year in U18 and is currently ranked fifth in the U18 2k male steeple, but had a big run in a tactical race at the trials. 

Sollitt, 14, won the U16 1,500m at the trials after joining the Endurance Project in March. He's currently ranked second in the province.

He had competed in school before but being part of the Endurance Club has driven him to further develop his skills in the sport.

"I'm excited about the skill level I'm racing against, and excited to be able to show my skills," says Sollitt.

He also competes in 1,200m and 2,000m runs, preferring longer distances, and was intrigued by the additional challenge of facing obstacles along the track.

"I felt that I had enough power in my legs to be able to jump over a few more things to get there. It seemed  like something I wanted to try and it looked like it was fun."

Knoll didn't compete at the trial meet but is currently ranked number one in the province in the U16 girls steeple.

Endurance Project head coach Travis Cummings says these results are outstanding and illustrate the development and maturation of the club as it progresses out of its infancy into a force to be reckoned with on the provincial track scene.

"The club has taken enormous strides forward in its fourth year of existence, and these types of performances keep showing what is possible with our organization," says Cummings.