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Forget the Olympics for a moment. For many that is either out of the question, or at least many, many years away. Instead, have a look at all the other great opportunities for competition & friendship that can come your way over a career in Track & Field Athletics.
You do not have to be the best to have a great time.
Where would you like to go next season?
In addition to our local Island Series of meets & Cougar trips, here's a partial list of what you can do...
When you're 10-13 (Junior Development)...
+ Regional club meets & competitions
...Cougars often does road trips to great meets in the interior & lower mainland
+ BC Junior Development Championships
...The big final JD Championship of BC & a ton of fun
When you're 14-15 (Midget/Youth-15)...
+ Regional club meets & competitions
...Cougars often does road trips to great meets in the interior & lower mainland
+ BC JD Championships
...Compete against some of the best clubs in the province
+ BC Summer Games (every even year)
...Compete against the best athletes in your age group in the province
+ BC Midget Alternate Championships (in place of BC Games every odd year)
...Compete against the best athletes in your age group in the province
+ Canadian Legion Championships - Midget Category
...Compete against some of the best athletes in the country.
...Moves to a different Canadian city each year.
When you're 16-17 (Juvenile/Youth)...
+ Spring Road Trip
...A Cougar early season quest for adventure at the USA college meets
+ BC Juvenile Championships & Legion Camp Trials
...How do you stack-up against the best in the province?
+ Canadian Legion Championships - Juvenile Category
...Compete against the best in Canada, & have a great time at a 5-day camp
+ World Youth Championships
...The last one was in Morocco, 2007 is in the Czech Replublic.
When you're 18-19 (Junior)...
+ Spring Road Trip
...If you had fun last year, let's go again! Colleges notice talented Canadians.
+ BC Junior Championships
...How do you stack up against the best Juniors in BC?
+ Canadian Junior Championships & Team Trials
...All the best in Juniors in Canada are here... go as Team BC or as a Cougar
+ PanAm Junior Championships
...The top Canadian Juniors compete in exotic North American locales.
+ World Junior Championships
...This is the big one - 2006 was held in Beijing. Graham went in '86 to Athens.
+ College Recruiting
...Consider attending college in the USA on a track & field scholarship just like Katy Gallagher is doing this coming year at the University of Oregon, or Tim Markloff at Fort Hayes. Throwers always get great offers, as do all hurdlers, multi-events, & jumpers. You don't have to be the best, just willing to help their school score divisional points. Division I is the biggest schools & programs, with Division II, III, & NAIA programs being smaller. When was the last time someone offered you lots of $US to get a great education?
Talk to John May for more information.
When you're 20-22...
+ Spring Road Trip
...If you're not busy with work, college exams, or meets, let's go!
+ NCAA Meet Schedule (College Divisions I, II, III, or NAIA)
...The list of road trips to big meets in your conference
+ NCAA Championships (College Divisions I, II, III, or NAIA)
...The big college track & field final for your division
+ Western Canada Games (21 & under)
...Multi-sport festival for the western provinces - a very good time!
+ Canada Games (23 & under)
...Multi-sport festival for all of Canada - a bigger, better time!
+ Canadian Senior/Open Championships & National Team Trials
...Qualify for Team BC, or go as a Cougar & see how you do nationally
+ NACAC Under 23 Championships
...North American & Carribean Championships (Dominican Repulic in 2006)
+ National Team Tours
...Athletics Canada often coordinates European tours for development squads
+ World Student Games (FISU)
...Huge multi-sport event for college students around the world. Incredible fun.
...Team standards are usually not too tough - Go if you get the chance!
...Ismir, Turkey in 2005
When you're over 23 (& almost as old as Graham)...
+ Spring Road Trip
...Let's go back down to Oregon and stomp on some college punks
+ Canadian Senior/Open Championships & National Team Trials
...If you've come this far as a Cougar, you're probably able to make a final.
+ National Team Tours
...Athletics Canada often coordinates European tours for development squads
+ IAAF Golden League Tour
...Week after week, this is the series you can earn a living at.
By invitation only for the best in the world.
+ Commonwealth Games (every 4 years)
...The second largest multi-sport event in the world
+ Francophone Games (French equivalent of the Commonwealth Games)
...Perhaps the easiest national senior team to qualify for,
and with great competition & travel destinations. Niger in 2005.
+ World Championships
...Every two years, the best in the world compete here
+ Olympic Games
...Goes without saying - If you can even make it here, you're exceptional!
+ World Masters Championships
...It continues in exotic locations around the world for 35 & older athletes.
No standards. Just pride. Riccione, Italy in 2007.
Interested in any or all of the above?
It's up to you, but you can count on Cougars to help you along the way.
It all starts at the Vanier Oval... see you there!
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