Record-breaking day for Brouwer
Braeden Brouwer had himself a day Thursday at the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association Zone 4 track and field meet at Centennial.
The Grade 12 student at West Niagara won four gold medals and in the process broke Zone 3 records in the senior boys 100 metres, 200 metres and 110-metre hurdles. Besides the individual events, he helped his school capture the 4X100-metre relay.
“The 110 was not very good. It was so far off my PR (personal record) but the 100 was 10.85 and the 200 was 21.89.”
The 100-metre time was a personal best for the 18-year-old but his personal best in the 200 metres is 21.4 seconds.
“My legs were a bit dead though,” he said.
The Thorold Elite Track Club member went into Thursday’s meet with the goal of recording a trio of zone records.
“I knew I could do it. I am running way faster in all my times except for the 100 because I hadn’t run it full out this year,” he said. “It was mission accomplished and I want to get the 110-metre hurdle record at SOSSA (Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association) and at South Regionals. I know I can do it because I am doing pretty well.”
He knows setting records in the other two events may be a little too much to ask of himself.
“There have been some pretty good guys in the past but we will see. You never know.”
He has a simple explanation for his increased speed.
“I have been grinding this year. I did a lot of weights and stuff in the off-season.”
His motivation was simple.
“I want to win OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations track and field meet) and I want to go to the U20 world championships.”
He feels the 200 metres is his best chance of representing Canada.
In 2023, he won a bronze medal at OFSAA in the 110-metre senior boys hurdles and bringing home gold is at the top of his agenda.
“I am in my last year and I kind of have to. I won’t have another time to do it.”
Brouwer won three bronze medals in the 2023 season in hurdles at the major championships: the senior boys 110-metre hurdles at OFSAA; the Athletics Ontario U18 Outdoor Championships; and, the Legion Youth National Championships in Sherbrooke, Que. The 2023 Thorold Elite boys track and Field MVP parlayed those results into a track scholarship at NCAA Division 1 St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minn., where he plans to study computer engineering.
Having his future set for the next four years has been a weight off of his shoulders.
“I don’t get as nervous going into races. Before I felt like I had to hit certain times but now I just do it. If I don’t hit them it sucks but it is what it is.”
He is working hard to get ready for his freshman season of Division 1 track and field.
“I have to keep training and try and win.
Thorold Elite coach Steven Fife wasn’t surprised by Brouwer’s performance.
“Braeden is the type of athlete who makes an immediate impact and is noticed by everyone. He put on three great shows at zone and has more records in sight at SOSSA next week, he said. “He is gearing up to race at U20 nationals in Montreal at the end of June.”
Late June will be a crazy time for Brouwer.
“He has a busy few days with prom and graduation back-to-back and then leaving for Montreal immediately after his grad ceremony . But I know he will keep his eyes focused on the goals,” Fife said.
