Kevin Gaiesky looks to regain his racing form Sunday in New England.
"I've had a pretty bad year time-wise, so I'm excited for the race, it'll be another chance to try and get back on track," said the recent Prince George high school graduate.
The 17-year-old race-walker will compete for Canada at the USA vs. Canada junior race walk match at East Boston Park. Gaiesky qualified for the event by placing third in his event at the Canadian Track and Field Championship in Calgary this summer.
The junior race walk pits six competitors from each country against each other in a dual, classified as the longest continuously conducted scoring match in any event for each country. Several athletes have used the race to spring themselves into international competition, including the Olympics.
Kevin Eastler and Joanne Dow, who competed for Team USA at the 2008 Olympics, started their careers with the junior race walk in Boston -- Eastler won the event -- will be in Boston for competitors and fans to meet.
With high school behind him, Gaiesky said, he's trying to figure out where race-walking fits into his future.
"I have to decide what I want to do and just start focusing on race-walking if that's really what I want to do," he said, adding it would be nice to make make the Commonwealth or Olympic Games team.
With plans to attend UNBC in the fall, Gaiesky said, he's excited to experience one of the oldest cities in the United States when his plane touches down Friday in Boston.
"It'll just be a cool experience all-around, from getting into the airport to driving to the hotel."
