Steeplechase runner, Kristian Richards, 14, is competing at the Sub Zero Meet hosted by the Prince George Track & Field Club at Masich Place this weekend.
Richards has already earned a silver medal in the 1200 metre race ran on Saturday morning with his 1500 metre steeplechase taking place later this afternoon.
“In the 1200 metre I ran my personal best,” Richards said about his time in the 3:50 minutes range. His best before that was about 4:20.
He credits joining the Prince George Track & Field Club with his increased speed.
“It pushed me a lot further,” Richards said.
As far as the steeple chase goes as a choice for Richards, he said it started as a joke between him and his mom, Selena.
“The first time I raced I think I got first in my age group and I never looked back,” Richards said.
“Taking on the steeple chase is all about my enjoyment of taking on a new challenge and when I started running it something just clicked.”
Richards runs at his high school too and the PGSS long distance coach got his whole team awesome superhero socks with little yellow capes sticking out the back.
“I have been wearing mine to every single race, others have been slacking but that’s ok,” Richards joked.
And yes, they are his lucky socks.
To prepare for each race Richards said he just focuses on what he’s doing in that moment.
“I focus on my goals for that race and how I want to do it – what I want to do after every hurdle and every water pit. I just want to make sure that I use every moment of my time focusing on getting a good finish.”
Richards will also compete in his very first 800m on Sunday as the Sub Zero meet continues. He considers the 800m a short race compared to what he’s used to running.
Some words advice for those just starting out.
“Try to do little runs here and there,” Richards said. “If you’re feeling like you’re not being very productive go for a little run, it doesn’t have to be fast at all, get your mind into, get some motivation and then compete.”
Almost 300 athletes participated in the Sub Zero meet this weekend as the Prince George Track & Field Club celebrated its 50th anniversary.
This is the club’s largest meet with high school athletes attending from around northern B.C.
The meet goes until about 4 p.m. on Saturday and again from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
