Close to 300 athletes from schools across Southeast Saskatchewan as well as scores of congratulatory parents and onlookers gathered under grey but unbroken skies on Monday afternoon to witness the grand opening of the Panteluk Athletic Field and Chamney Family Running Track at Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS).
The ECS band welcomed the crowd to the opening ceremony with a rousing edition of O Canada before a series of speeches were given by representatives from the City of Estevan, ECS, the Estevan 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games committee and the main sponsors of the athletic field and running track. A mascot race then ensued with Ravi, the Summer Games good luck charm, reaching the finish line first to break the opening ribbon and start the first major athletics event at the facility featuring the assembled grades 6 to 9 athletes.
“Lots of people have been using the track for a little bit of training and of course for walking and all that, but it’s really good to see 275 kids are going to be using it all at the same time here,” said Brian Smith, co-chair of the Summer Games, shortly before the competition began. “All sorts of different events are going on from 100-metre (sprints) all the way up to the 1500m (run) on the track and we have shot put and discus for the throwing events and of course we have high jump and we have the long jump and the triple jump going on all at the same time. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Smith said the opening event for the facility was planned about two years ago when the construction of the track began in June 2014 with the hope the junior grades track meet will become an annual contest at the school. He said the event also served as an opportunity for the Summer Games’ volunteers to see the venue and get an understanding of what they’ll be doing as well as test their operation devices such as the starting guns, data entry systems and stop clocks.
“It’s more comfortable running on it than gravel,” said Kaiden Tuchscherer, 14, about his first impression of the track while competing at the meet as a member of the Spruce Ridge Cougars track team. “It’s easy to start off too, like you don’t slip when you start. The (sprints), it gives you extra oomph.”
Pat Jeannot, principal of ECS, said this new facility is fantastic for the community and the students at the school now and for many years to come. He said having an athletic field and running track of this regard also allows them to host many more events at ECS, which should continue to grow their already blossoming track and field program along with other school athletic teams.
“I want to join track next year,” said Shanelle Rioux, 14, a Grade 8 student at Spruce Ridge School who will be attending ECS in September. “I guess (the track) will make me better having a good place to practise.”
