A local athlete took the big step towards the next level recently by competing with 3,800 other athletes at the 2015 USA National New Balance Track and Field Championship in New York City.
Jaden Porte, who hails from Yorkton but now trains with the U of S Huskies track team, was one of just a handful of Canadian athletes who were talented enough to qualify for one of the biggest meets in the United States thanks to a sparkling 1:55.21 time in the 800m run at Winnipeg鈥檚 Boeing Track and Field meet earlier this season.
The qualification time in Winnipeg meant that Porte 鈥� who ranks third nationally in the 1000m and seventh for the 800m - became one of the top 36 athletes in the 800m in North America.
Unfortunately the Yorkton athlete could not repeat his success in Winnipeg, finishing in 27th out of the 36 runners at the US Nationals against the toughest competition he has faced in his career.
However the finish did not deter the talented runner. Instead, he felt that the opportunity to run against some of the elite athletes was one that he will cherish as he continues to get better. 鈥淚t was an incredible experience to run against the top athletes in both Canada and the United States,鈥� said Porte. 鈥� Also the New Balance nationals gives the opportunity for Canadians to prove themselves against many of the best athletes the United States has to offer.
鈥淚f you look at the results nearly all of the fastest indoor runners were competing there from North America.鈥�
Porte will now turn his attention to the 2015 outdoor season, where he has set some lofty 鈥� but attainable 鈥� goals. 鈥淔or the outdoor season I have set my goals to qualify and perform well at Junior nationals in Edmonton and Western Canadian summer games at Fort Mac.鈥�
