Alyx Treasure was supposed to be competing for the UBC Thunderbirds this season. Even though the local high jumper is no longer part of the T-birds' program, she proved she can still soar.
Treasure, a 2010 graduate of D.P. Todd secondary school, leaped to gold at the Ken Shannon Invitational in Seattle on Saturday. She took top spot in a 23-athlete field when she cleared the bar at 1.75 metres. The other 22 jumpers were all out of the competition by the time Treasure entered it.
"It was good, but the competition was a little lower [in calibre]," Treasure said Monday from Vancouver. "I wasn't exactly pleased with my jumping but it was OK for a season-opener."
The meet was an NCAA event and was held at Husky Stadium on the University of Washington campus.
Treasure, who will turn 19 on Sunday, started the school year with the Thunderbirds. But, she said health issues in January forced her to leave UBC and the track and field team. Treasure said she spent two weeks in hospital and had to stop training for two months.
Treasure, a product of the Prince George Track and Field Club, was representing the PGTFC at Saturday's meet.
During her high school days at D.P. Todd, Treasure put together one of the most successful careers in the history of B.C. athletics. Starting in Grade 10, she was the provincial high school champion for three consecutive years. The only other B.C. high jumper to accomplish that feat was the legendary Debbie Brill, who claimed titles in 1969, 1970 and 1971. Brill went on to become an Olympian.
Treasure's personal-best jump is 1.82m, a mark that gave her B.C. high school gold for the first time.
Treasure is now making plans for next school year. On Thursday, she'll head for the University of Hawaii for a site visit.
"I'm going down there for a couple of days to look at their program," she said. "Nothing's for sure -- I don't really know if I want to commit there yet, and I still have other options I'm going to look at."
