Konkle eyes berth in world championships
More than 2,500 athletes from around the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics by competing May 14-17 at the Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games in Toronto.
Beamsville’s Owen Konkle celebrated that anniversary and his own impressive performance after dominating the competition in track and field events.
The Beamsville and District Secondary School student won gold in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres and also added bronze medals in the running long jump and 4X100-metre relay.
His result in the 400 metres was the most impressive, considering it was only the second 400-metre event that he had ever competed in.
The 19-year-old is starting to focus on the 400 metres because it’s his ticket to reaching his goal of competing at the world championships.
To qualify for the worlds, an athlete needs to have his or her international qualification to compete in the intellectually disabled events. Konkle was recently granted his T20 status which will allow him to compete at the Canadian track and field championships at the end of July.
He will be taking part in the 400 metres because only the 400, 800 and 1,500 are offered for T20 athletes. He needs to win and achieve a certain time standard to book his ticket to worlds.
Given Konkle’s running history, that shouldn’t be a problem. He recently ran the third 400-metre race of his career and hit the qualifying standard he would need to compete in the Parapan Games. He is already ranked fifth in Canada in the T20 400-metre division.
The Niagara Olympic Club member has been running track for the past seven years and is constantly improving.
“It has been getting better every year because of practice and my friends,” Konkle said.
Friends are an important part of the equation.
“They help to motivate you to do your best,” he said. “They help in every way.”
His biggest achievements are not the medals he has won.
“I am really proud of my times,” he said. “They have come down a lot.”
He trains five times a week at the Niagara Olympic Club and is inspired to do so by his mom, Jennifer Korstanj.
“She yells at me to get out of bed,” he said, with a laugh.
Mom is quick to respond.
“I do not yell at you.”
Coach Derrick Beach has been working with Konkle for the past two years.
“He works hard every time he comes to the track and is always trying to get better,” he said. “You give him a workout, he goes and does it and he doesn’t complain. He just rips it off.”
Beach sees a lot of potential in Konkle.
“He is a very talented athlete and he goes from the 100 metres right up to cross country.”
BPSN’s coverage of the track and field season is made possible with the support of the Niagara Olympic Club (https://nocrunners.com).
