Zoe on the go

Zoe Phillips has made a steady climb up the ranks of high school running in Ontario.

In Grade 9, the Eden student placed 19th in the 200 metres at the Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Association track and field championships and, in Grade 10, she was 16th in the 400 metres.

In 2018, the 17-year-old took it to a whole new level by capturing a silver medal in the junior girls 400 metres at the OFSAA  track and field championships.

“Last year, I really wanted to place because it has always been a goal of mine,” said Phillips, who placed first in the senior girls 400 metres at Thursday’s Zone 4 track and field meet at the Niagara Olympic Club.  “The fact that I was able to do it made me really happy.”

One year later, her silver-medal finish still figures prominently in her memory.

“It was kind of a battle between first place and myself, but crossing the line knowing that I had gotten a medal made my day,” she said. “I felt so proud of myself because I worked so hard that year.”

The Grade 12 student, who is a year younger than most of her peers because she skipped a grade, felt there were a lot of factors that helped propel her on to the OFSAA podium.

“I switched coaches — I think that played a big role — but also I had a different mindset going into it,” she said. “I also have a great support network with my family and my church as well which really helps a lot.”

Her mindset was much different from previous years.

“I always went in fearful because I didn’t really have any training,” she said. “I was part of a club, but I didn’t train to the point where I could medal at OFSAA.

“Coming in with a positive mindset and knowing that if I put my mind to it I could achieve it, really helped me.”

Phillips knows she is in tough at the provincial level as a 17-year-old competing against older competitors, but she is still aiming high.

“My goal is to definitely place at OFSAA again, run some more personal bests and hopefully make the national team.”

Phillips has already committed to a running scholarship at the University of Guelph and won’t have that on her mind as her final high school come and go.

“It was close to home, Jason Kerr is an amazing coach and I know a couple of people on the team so that really drew me to the school.”

It wasn’t the only offer received by the future Guelph sociology major.

“I had some interest from Division 2 and Division 3 schools in the U.S., but I decided to stay home,” she said. “A lot of people go to the U.S. and try to achieve their dreams but I believe that even if I stay home, I still have a great chance like everyone else to do something great with my life.”