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Volume 108, Issue 33
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Ramsay a record runner
By Sheila Runions Banner Staff
T
o close the school year of 2014-15, Morgan Ramsay won two silver medals at the provincial track and field meet at University of Manitoba; she had first won two gold medals at zone level. Because of her successes, she was chosen to be part of Team Manitoba and at that point, the Rivers Collegiate student joined Prairie Storm Athletics Track and Field Club based out of Neepawa. Her Prairie Storm coach is Bryce Koscielny who says, “Morgan got involved with my team to train more outside of the high school program and help prepare her for when she was selected last summer to be a part of the provincial team.” Through Bryce she learned of the 38th annual Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho Feb. 18-20. This competition is one of the biggest indoor track meets in the western half of United States. This year’s event attracted 2,100 high school athletes from 19 different states, Canada, Mexico and Australia. Competitors were also able to see or even talk to Olympic legends Dick Fosbury, Andre Phillips, Stacy Dragila and Australian Olympian Steve Hooker. Simplot Games is unique because it is an open competition — athletes do not need a certain qualifying time or distance to be able to compete. If participants wish to attend for free, through scholarships offered by Simplot, an essay is required. Bryce encouraged Morgan to submit a request and she was one of four Manitobans selected (as was a girl from Brandon who is also part of Prairie Storm). Morgan’s essay explains her history and passion of the sport. “In the winters when I am not doing indoor track, I am at the rink. I play on an AAA girls midget hockey team which keeps me very busy. I am on the ice every day of the week and
when I am not, I try to attend all the track practices I can. “The past couple years is when my interest in track really developed. I always loved it, but only participated in my school meets. The only events I train for and participate in are sprints; I do not like long distance as much. My specialties are 60 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres. Last summer at my provincial track meet is when I really realized my love and potential for track; I got second in 100 metres and 200 metres, both personal records for myself. “After this meet I got noticed by a couple track coaches; I [then] began training with Bryce every Tuesday night. A lot of the time there were only a few of us at practices. This gave me the opportunity for a lot more individual coaching to work on my techniques for my starts and proper running form. “The second coach I was working with is Chris Belof, one of the head directors of Athletics Manitoba. I would make the drive a couple times a month to Winnipeg to practise with him. With his individual training and mentoring, he encouraged me to try out for Manitoba track team. I am proud to say I made this team! I have learned a lot from these two track coaches and it is crazy to see how much of a better runner and an improved athlete all around, they have helped me become. I can even notice when I am running how much I have developed and changed. “This past summer I got to participate in the Western Canadian Classic; it was such a great opportunity and I felt very honoured to be representing my province. It is unbelievable to think at the start of that year I was just doing track at my small, rural high school, to now being on a provincial team. I did have
Photo by Bryce Koscielny
Morgan Ramsay poses with the banner at Idaho State University, where she participated in a track tournament.
the opportunity to go to nationals in Quebec this past summer but unfortunately, due to timing conflicts and finances, I was unable to attend. “Every track practice I attend I always train my hardest and make sure to fix the little things in my form while I am running. I do a lot of extra running; I go into Brandon as much as possible to run on my own time
because that is the closest track to me. In all my years of running I’ve gotten first in the 60 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres at every track meet I’ve been to, up until this year I got second in provincials and fifth in Western Canada. “If I got the chance to attend and compete in the Simplot Games I would be honoured. I feel like it would be a great
opportunity for my track career and an experience I could not get anywhere else.” While in Pocatello, the 16-year-old competed in one event only, the 60 metres. She ran against 120 girls with a time of 8.38 seconds. Although she placed 41st there, she is the fastest 60-metre female runner in all of Manitoba, which is an incredible accomplishment!