One final hurdle for Elliott
Kalista Elliott would love nothing better than to enter university this fall with an OFSAA gold medal.
The 18-year-old, Grade 12 student at Saint Michael Catholic High School has a legitimate shot at winning gold in the senior girls 100-metre hurdles at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations event in Ottawa next month.
Elliott placed first at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (SOSSA) meet at Centennial this week and would cherish ending her high school career on top.
“I would love that,” the Niagara Falls resident said. “I don’t want to say win, but a good time. I want to be under 14 because that should win OFSAA.
“I was fourth at OFSAA last year and all those girls graduated so I’m hoping.”
Coach Michael Heron feels Elliott has what it takes to be on the podium this time around.
“For her to win at OFSAA, she has everything necessary now speed-wise and technical-wise,” Herron said. “She should be able to go 13.8-ish. As a rule, 13.8 should get you a gold at OFSAA.
“Last week she ran 14.5 basically by herself because the girl fell a second behind and this week there was no one testing her.”
Elliott, who has committed to run track at Western where she will study nutrition, admitted it is a relief to have that big decision off her mind.
“I loved the campus. Some people talk about the States but I didn’t think I wanted that because I feel they are more sports than school and I need to train for a job,” she said.
Elliott, who also competes in hurdles and triple jump, is a natural athlete who formerly played volleyball and was also a gymnast for 13 years.
“She’s ridiculously talented,” Heron said. “She set all kinds of records for triple when she was younger and then she took some time off from it.”
Elliott was turning heads with her jumping abilities as early as Grade 8.
“To get a D1 scholarship, you need 12 metres,” Heron said. “She was beating everybody. The girls she was beating when she was younger only caught up to her after four years.”
Elliott has high hopes she will find her jumping form again
“I triple jumped over 12 in Grade 9 and haven’t got there since so I’m hoping to get back there,” she said.
She admitted it can be a bit hectic at times balancing three events.
“It is a little (difficult). It’s stressful when they are at the same time. Today, I was supposed to jump and do relay at the same time. Had to switch my shoes twice. It was just all over the place.”
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