Saskatoon indoor track meet draws international stars
Over 3,000 athletes ranging in age and skill level participated in Canada’s largest indoor invitational international track and field meet, the Knights of Columbus Indoor Games.
The action packed weekend began with the elementary school relay on Thursday, plus a visit from former participant and Olympic gold medalist, Donovan Bailey.
Bailey was named Canadian Athlete of the Meet in 1996.
“He’s been really good,” said Gil Wist, president of the organizing committee for the Knights of Columbus Indoor Games. “I think he’s inspired a lot of kids to get involved, stay with sport, set yourself some goals and work towards that.”
The competition on Saturday featuring a combination of local athletes rubbing shoulders with some top-level international competitors looking to get a head start on the summer outdoor season.
“This is my third indoor meet,” said Nick Andrews, who came from Australia and is training in Arizona currently. “I usually don’t train indoors in Australia because there’s no need for an indoor track. So it’s my third and last race indoors, but it does kick off that outdoor season that starts for me February 23rd.”
For one local athlete who competed at this event as a youngster, and is now at the invitational level, it was a rare opportunity to learn from one of Canada’s best ever.
“I actually got to talk to Olympian Donovan Bailey after my victory in the invitational,” said Kat Gilbert, member of the Saskatoon Track and Field Club. “He gave me some pointers and I’m just so glad that he was able to watch my race and just get some really good tips from a world class professional, so I’m thankful.”
Gilbert is graduating high school this year and has plans to attend Monmouth University next year to continue her academic and athletic career.
At a meet like this, she says it’s important to stay focused even with high profile competitors all around.
“I was fairly nervous at the beginning,” said Gilbert. “But then I just realized how much I love running, and the nerves kind of went away and it was good.”
While she admits she still has lots to learn, Gilbert has advice for athletes who are just starting out.
“You just need to be patient. You have to learn to race against yourself, and also be competitive at the same time.”
No matter the age of the competitor, everybody got something out of this special weekend, including new memories.
“There was one in particular that sticks out,” said Wist. “He got his shoe signed by Donovan Bailey. He turned around, jumped up in the air and said ‘Yeah! He signed my shoe!’ so just to see the enthusiasm has been great.
While it was a special weekend for the athletes, it was also a celebration of 100 years of the Knights of Columbus in Saskatchewan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's orphan oil and gas well problem runs a billion dollars deep
Canadian companies are spending public funding to clean up their oil and gas wells at a time when the industry is raking in historic profits, yet many wells remain abandoned or unplugged. As the number of these wells rises, so do the environmental costs and the likelihood that taxpayers will be on the hook for them.

Femicides on the rise as report indicates a woman or girl is killed every 48 hours in Canada
Femicides in Canada are on a concerning rise according to a new report that says a woman or girl is killed every 48 hours in the country and this number is likely to increase.
Police identify two of eight migrants pulled from water near Akwesasne, Que.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Police identified two of the eight migrants whose bodies were pulled from the St. Lawrence River earlier this week, but said Saturday they're still searching for a local resident whose boat was found near the victims.
Guilbeault defends carbon price, admits 'average household will pay more,' even after rebates
Canada's environment and climate change minister acknowledged that the average household may eventually pay more for the carbon price than it gets back in rebate payments, but says the Liberal government has other programs to help Canadians lower their energy costs overall.
Hungry iguana bites and infects toddler with rare bacterial infection before snatching her cake
A rare infection with tuberculosis-like symptoms was reported in a toddler after an iguana bit her before snatching away a slice of cake on a trip to Costa Rica.
April storms bring May norms: Weather Network’s seasonal forecast
The latest seasonal outlook from The Weather Network shows early April will continue to be chilly with flip-flopping temperatures bringing above and below the usual levels of precipitation seen around this time.
At least 26 dead after tornadoes rake U.S. Midwest, South
Storms that dropped possibly dozens of tornadoes killed at least 26 people in small towns and big cities across the South and Midwest, tearing a path through the Arkansas capital, collapsing the roof of a packed concert venue in Illinois, and stunning people throughout the region Saturday with the damage's scope.
Ukrainian official offers plan for a Crimea without Russia
A top Ukrainian official on Sunday outlined a series of steps the government in Kyiv would take after the country reclaims control of Crimea, including dismantling the strategic bridge that links the seized Black Sea peninsula to Russia.
Migrant bodies in St. Lawrence 'heartbreaking' but 'predictable,' advocate says
After the bodies of several people were discovered in the St. Lawrence River, who authorities say were likely trying to cross illegally into the U.S., a migrant advocate is questioning why people are fleeing Canada.