Most athletes have goals and dreams they’re striving to reach in their sporting career.
For local track and field star, Mason Sartain, his hardwork and training is helping him get closer to his aspirations as an athlete.
At the 2018 Alberta School Athletics Association (ASAA) high school provincials in Red Deer over the June 1 weekend, Sartain competed in his usual events, and was surprised to find out that no one from Zone 7 had earned a gold medal in the 100 or 200-metre dash in 28 years.
His coach and dad, Kevin Satain, was approached by other coaches after the results were released. It was through their remarks that Kevin learned what his son had accomplished.
“It wasn’t something that happened that we knew was going to happen. We didn’t find out until after, and we were pretty stunned.”
This season, Sartain has been trying to beat his personal best scores, and figured everything else would take care of itself.
In order to prepare for provincial competitions, Sartain spent four months working on endurance sprint training.
“You sprint a lot, and its longer distances. I would run 250 metres, at 80 percent, and I would do that six times to get better and faster.”
According to Sartain, he is one of the youngest athletes in the junior division. He finished third overall after competing in the 100 and 200-metre dash, long jump, and 400 relay with 49.75 points.
Bonnyville Centralized High School sent six additional athletes that brought home the 2A division silver medal for overall points.
Sartain’s goal is to get a full scholarship to the University of Oregon. He hopes he will one day compete at the ultimate level: the Olympics.
Over the weekend, Sartain took part in the Calgary Track and Field meet, where he brought home gold in the 100-metre, silver in the 200-metre, and placed fifth in long jump.
From July 14 to 15, Sartain will face-off against athletes from across Alberta in the Athletics Alberta Provincial Championships, followed by the Alberta Summer Games from July 19 to 22.
