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Wallster continues training; misses competing

This was supposed to be Hunter Wallster’s final season of high school track and field competition – a season in which he would continue to train and work hard, and hopefully set a new provincial record.
Hunter Wallster
Hunter Wallster is doing what he can to keep training so he is ready for next season, when he is scheduled to start competing in the NCAA. File photo

This was supposed to be Hunter Wallster’s final season of high school track and field competition – a season in which he would continue to train and work hard, and hopefully set a new provincial record.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed those plans, but at least Wallster, a Grade 12 student at the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS), can keep training for the next chapter in his athletic career.

Last year, as a Grade 11, he won gold in the discus with a distance of 46.46 metres, less than two metres off of the provincial record. And he brought home a silver medal in the shot put.

He was looking forward to taking another run at a provincial discus record.

“I still throw high school weight here and there just for speed training before I switch to the college implement,” said Wallster.

Also scrapped are the Saskatchewan Athletics club track and field provincials, along with nationals in Montreal at the end of June and other meets in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

“It was expected but not … what I hoped for,” said Wallster.

But the loss of those events has given him time to work on his technique and get ready for his transition to collegiate athletics.

He already committed to the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Jackrabbits, a Division 1 school in the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) Summit League

“It’s definitely nice to have that figured out. Otherwise I would have been hoping for good marks this season, and without the season, it probably would have put some stress on me,” Wallster said.

Wallster has been lifting weights, practising throwing and continuing with normal activity. He has a backyard training circle where he does 18-32 throws, depending on the session, and then he has lifts with bench presses, squats, dumbbell lifts and other exercises designed to boost his strength.

But he also incorporates yoga and heavy stretching into his routine.

It’s a pattern he follows five to six days a week.

“When I first started throwing, I built a circle in my backyard out of plywood. I’ve just been throwing off in that.”

The training circle is full Olympic size and there is a wooden platform around it.

He recalls that when the gyms closed down, the next day, he bought some four-by-fours and built himself a squat rack.

“It’s a little bit challenging, because I don’t have as much weight at home as I can lift. So I’ve really had to modify stuff, like instead of a full back squat, I’ve had to do single leg lunges to get that full workout in.”

He’s also been having more plyometrics in his workouts.

Wallster has been talking with his coaches at the Jackrabbits a couple of times a week about what’s happening with the school. He expects that he’ll still be able to get down there in the fall to compete with the team.

“From what I’ve head, university is still open. Whether or not that will change is to be seen. I’m just hoping that I’ll get down on campus and hopefully train with a coach,” he said.

There is an indoor season that begins in early December and continues into March, with a meet every week except for the Christmas break. The outdoor season starts in April, and continues until mid-May. Nationals are the first week in June.

The NCAA has granted an extra year of eligibility for those who compete in spring sports such as track and field. That won’t affect Wallster’s eligibility, but it means he’ll be facing even tougher competition next year.