Other than the fact her oldest son Max Schonewille has become a dedicated throwing specialist in hammer toss, discus and javelin, the new president of the Prince George Track and Field Club had no previous connection to athletics.
Elena Thomas just wants the PGTFC to continue to thrive, which explains why she offered to take on the duties Brian Martinson held for seven years as president of the club.
"I'm not a track and field person at all, I'm succeeding Brian because my oldest son loves track and field, it's the only sport he loves anymore and I thought it was my turn to do something for the club because my kid loves it," said Thomas, while waiting for the start of the B.C. high school championships Thursday in Langley. She's there with a contingent of about 20 Prince George athletes for the three-day event.
Martinson, who took over from Tom Masich as club president in 2011, has offered to help Thomas at track meets and said he will be available to her for advice to help smooth the transition period. He also remains the club's long distance running coach.
"Brian has great knowledge of all the setup of the finish line and hopefully he'll be around for events," said Thomas. "Brian and the Masich family ran it so well it almost runs itself."
The PGTFC hasn't hosted a meet since Masich Place Stadium closed for reconstruction last spring. The club has since been based at its former home at Lac des Bois school, formerly known as Lakewood junior secondary. The Lac des Bois field has a dirt running track but the school field is not suitable for track meets. With Masich Stadium out of commission, the north central zone meet was instead staged in Quesnel May 15-16.
"It hasn't been easy but the parents and the kids have been fabulous about working out of such a tiny space," said Thomas. "Five days a week you're hauling stuff in and out of a little metal can and it's tough but they do it and they're doing great."
Membership in the club now stands at 186, having averaged between 150 and 175 members the past few years.
Originally the club was told it would likely be moving back to Masich in mid-June. The city facility is in the final stages of a $4.375-million reconstruction to install a synthetic turf field and rubberized running track and rebuild the jumping and throwing areas. However, completion of the project is likely to be delayed due to an error which left the rubberized throwing platform about a half-metre lower than the landing field.
"Unfortunately the platform is lower than the soccer field they want us to throw out into, so it's kind of like throwing up a hill," said Thomas. "If it's not flat you can't mark any of your throws as any kind of record. I'm sure they will fix it but I don't know when. I would say it would be easier to redo the platform right now and finish it by the fall so it sits at the right level. We're out anyway and our season ends at the end of July and we can live without it for that extra month or two months when it's completely done and done right."
The club's annual sub-zero meet, May 5, and the Spruce Capital meet, originally slated for June 9-10, have been cancelled. Thomas says the club will get back to hosting meets next year. The club continues to apply for government grants to replace aging equipment. The city will use Masich Place Stadium a base for the 2022 B.C. Summer Games and Thomas is hopeful that will lead to legacy grants for club improvements.
The PGTFC has a staff of six volunteer coaches including Cathy Johnson (sprints), Rob Millar (mid-distance), Cassaundra O'Brien (throwing), Lauren Matheson (jumping/sprinting, junior development), and Randi Masich (younger athletes, jumping).
Among the Prince George medal hopefuls this weekend is sprinter Tyler Loth of Kelly Road, in his first provincial championship. The Grade 10 student cleaned up in the 100m and 200m events at the North Central zone meet.
Representing Duchess Park, the senior girls relay team of Emmilin Leclerc, Erica Turgeon, Avery Steven and Barb Keshiro qualified in the 4 X 100m and 4 X 400m relays at the zone meet.
Schonewille, a former competitive speed skater, is a Grade 11 student at Duchess Park and he's targeting at least a top-eight provincial finish this weekend in the hammer throw and top-10 placings in discus and javelin.
Bazil Spencer of Quesnel, trains with the PGTFC, but will be competing this weekend for Correlieu secondary. At the zone meet he attempted a zone record 1.89 metres in the high jump and cleared the bar on his second attempt but hit it with part of his body on the way down, just missing the record. Thomas said its not unrealistic to expect a top-five finish for him in Langley.
Jordan Bax, a Grade 11 student from D.P. Todd, won the zone titles in the 1,500m and 3,000m runs and will be looking for his first provincial track and field medal this weekend. Owen MacDonald of Duchess Park, a Grade 10 student, has turned his speed skater background into success on the running track. He's entered in the 400m and 80m runs as well as the team relays.
The meet wraps up Saturday afternoon.
