Saint Francis star a natural athlete
Sadiekie Hayden is a man for all seasons.
The 15-year-old, Grade 10 student at Saint Francis is an accomplished football player who suits up for Team Ontario and also appears to have a very bright future in track and field.
Hayden came away with a first-place finish in the junior boys 300-metre hurdles at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association track and field meet Thursday at Centennial.
“Sadiekie is a very talented multi-sport athlete who excels in a lot of areas but has really great potential in track,” Thorold Elite Track Club head coach Steve Fife said. “He definitely has many options but we are encouraging him to focus in on track as much as possible as there are lots of doors that can open post-secondary.”
Hayden, who gave up basketball last year, won a national bronze medal in triple jump last year.
“As a sprinter and jumper we have already seen him compete on the national level, and to now add hurdles into his repertoire and be the SOSSA champion speaks to his athleticism,” Fife said.
Hayden also competes in the 100 metres, where he placed sixth Wednesday during the first day of SOSSA, and the triple jump, where he was second.
Hayden said competing in so many events requires discipline.
“It’s different days, different types of training. You can’t train the triple jump every day because it’s not good for your body so I train twice a day and the 100 metre kind of goes with the 300 hurdles,” he said.
His tireless work ethic comes naturally, he said.
“I think I’m training every day. If you don’t enjoy it, it would be pretty hard to get up every day at do it. It comes easy for me so I love doing sports. If I’m not doing sports, what would I do?”
Hayden began track last year at the urging of his sister and coaches.
“They thought I should try track because they thought I would do pretty good,” he said.
He quickly emerged as a rising star, but this year injured his Achilles tendon which has hampered his running.
“It came easy for me last year, this year it’s a little bit harder coming off the injury,” he said. “I twisted my ankle in flag football and it’s a little bit stiff.”
Hayden has lofty immediate and long-term goals, hoping for a track scholarship to a U.S. school down the road.
For now, his main concern in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships June 6-8 in London.
“OFSAA gold medal in triple jump and 300-metre hurdles,” he said confidently. “I had 100 metres in there but it didn’t go to well this year because of my injury.”
Hayden placed fourth in triple jump and 10th in the 100 metres at OFSAA last year.
“The preparation is key. Everyone there is fast,” he said. “It’s intimidating and they have security guards and people escorting you off. It’s all nerve wracking. It’s a lot different than these meets.”
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