Could Woods? Woods could
TJ Woods finished his first year of high school with three Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations’ medals on his resume.
The Grade 9 student at Denis Morris won a silver medal in novice boys cross country in the fall and this spring he captured a provincial gold medal in the novice boys 1,500 metres and a bronze in the 800 metres.
The 15-year-old Thorold resident went into his first year of high school confident in his abilities but not overconfident.
“I am very happy with that and if you had told me last year that I would get three medals I wouldn’t have believed it myself. It is pretty crazy right now to still think about it.”
He credits his success to being dedicated.
“It was coming to every practice and not giving up. I think it has been a year now and I haven’t missed any practices. Staying consistent is the biggest thing.”
His motivation to always be at practice is wanting to do well in his races.
“I know I have to go to every practice and do well.”
He did have higher expectations heading into OFSAA track and field.
“I was hoping for a medal and I knew I could do it but I didn’t know if I could get two medals though,” the Thorold Elite Track Club member said. “The 1,500 is my best event and I knew I could do pretty well at that and the 800 I am good at but there is really good competition and I knew it was going to be close race for everything .”
He had a blast at OFSAA track and field.
“It was a really good experience and I was looking forward to it the whole year. It is the biggest track meet of the whole season and I was really happy that I did well there. Everyone is there and there is great competition.”
The most memorable moment at his first OFSAA track meet was the close finish in the 800 metres.
“I still regret not diving. We were coming around the corner and another guy and I were going at it. We pushed out into Lane 2 and 3 and the guy from behind came into Lane 1. Then it was all three of us and we were battling for it. Right at the end, they both dove and I kind of did the duck thing with my shoulder. I guess it wasn’t enough.”
Next up for Woods this summer are the Athletics Ontario championships and the nationals.
“I am hoping to do well at nationals.”
He believes the biggest boost to his running in the past year has come through racing against tough competition.
“During the indoor season, I had a lot of good, competitive races. I went to New Balance nationals in Boston and a couple other meets in the States where I am not doing as well,” he said. “It is showing me I’m not the fastest and it makes me want to do better. I never got discouraged and it just made me want to run better times. Coming into the outdoor season that really helped.”
His ultimate goal is to be a scholarship runner in the United States but there’s lots of work to do before he heads south.
“I just want to keep getting OFSAA medals and keep it up. I have to stay consistent and keep working hard.”
This past season,Woods broke three Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association records, including one previously held by Olympian Mohammed Ahmed. For his efforts, he was named the City of Thorold’s Male Athlete of the Year by the 2023 Runway of Recognition Committee.
“TJ is a tremendous athlete and is on a whole other level but he doesn’t let this get to his head at all. He is still the first one to congratulate every other runner at the finish line, or to offer someone to cool down with him no matter who they are,” Thorold coach Steven Fife said. “I know with TJ it’s easy to see all of the awards and all of the medals but the character behind those things is what also makes him a top-tier athlete, friend, teammate, and person.”
He also works incredibly hard.
“We have seen him balance other sports and still perform and compete at a very high level. Now that he is just focusing on track at the moment we are going to see some amazing races come out of him this summer,” Fife said. “Someday when people are talking about famous athletes to come from Thorold, his name will be on that list.”
