Making sweet music on the track
Nadia Austin’s stumbled upon her talent in track and field when she got fed up with taking violin lessons.
The 16-year-old, Grade 10 student at A.N. Myer gave up music about six years ago to give track a try and the decision has proved to be a wise one.
“I used to do violin and quit that before I started track for school. I liked it so I joined a club,” Austin smiled Tuesday at the Niagara Olympic Club where the 18th Annual Bulldog/Cougar Classic was held.
Austin, who trains out of Niagara Regional Athletics, specializes in the long jump, 800-metre hurdles and 100-metre race, but it’s the long jump where she excels.
“I’ve only worked with her the last few weeks,” Myer coach Susan Bright said. “In training, she’s dedicated and a hard worker.
“She’s focused. She’s very promising.”
Austin has high hopes this season for a return to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships.
“Last year I made it to South Regional for all my events,” she said. “At OFSAA, I didn’t have a good meet so the goal is to make it to OFSAA.”
Austin wasn’t quite sure what happened at OFSAA.
“I don’t know. My jumps were like a metre behind where they usually are and my runs were a second slower.”
Austin’s personal best is 5.15 metres in the long jump, although she has hit 5.50 in practice. Her PB in the 100 is 13.13 seconds.
“I’d like to hit a 5.50 in an actual meet and for the 100 try and break 13 (seconds),” she said.
Austin is also a top-notch soccer player for Elite Soccer Development out of Welland, where she recently returned from a tour of Portugal.
She is looking for a track scholarship, although, she admits soccer is her favourite sport.
“I like soccer better, but track I think I have a better chance,” she smiled. “I want to get a track scholarship to either North Carolina or Hawaii.”
Austin’s schedule is predictably hectic, but she said school takes priority.
“I always focus on my school first,” she said. “I don’t mind skipping practices if I have to get my work done first.
“I keep a schedule every week so there’s always something every day.”
Austin said she trains twice a week with NRA and once with Myer, in addition to her soccer.
Next up are the Zone 3 (Tuesday, May 14) and Zone 4 (Thursday, May 16) meets at NOC.
BPSN coverage of the track and field season is made possible with the support of the Niagara Olympic Club (https://nocrunners.com).
