Cathy Johnson saw a chance to fill a void in the Prince George sporting community when she decided to organize a fundraising training camp for Prince George Track and Field Club athletes.
Johnson, the sprint and hurdles coach at the club, started competing in track during her high school days in Calgary and eventually received a full-ride scholarship to Ohio State University, where she ran the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints in Big 10 competitions between 1996 and 2000. In addition, Johnson competed in several Canadian junior track events, the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops and the Pan Am Games.
"It's been quite the ride and now I'm able to give back and really allow the athletes to experience some of the things that I experience in track and field," said Johnson. "I have a passion for the kids and having them realize their dream and being able to support them in that."
Johnson said since she started volunteering her time with the Club after moving to Prince George she noticed many of the young athletes were financially unable to travel to out-of-town meets. She wanted to find a way to ease the financial burden some families have while giving the athletes more opportunities to enhance their talents.
"It's absolutely important in any sport to be able to compete against the best and to be able to experience different environments and different pressure situations in order to get better in your sport," said Johnson, adding that most track meets are in the south. "I thought I'd do something about it so I came up with this training camp idea."
Johnson joined forces with Gary Reed, Canadian record holder in the 800m middle distance (1:14.72) and a 2007 silver medalist at the world championship. Reed has a Foundation that supports underprivileged and developing athletes, similar to what Johnson wanted to do in Prince George, so the two teamed up and are splitting the proceeds from the $40 per ticket training camp.
Reed served as head coach at Saturday's inaugural Gary Reed camp, while Johnson coached the sprinters and hurdlers at Masich Place Stadium. Other guest coaches included Prince George middle distance runner Geoff Martinson, hurdler Tessa Gray-Burnett, pole vault specialist Robin Webster of Calgary and Quesnel's Ron Bunting, technical director of B.C. Athletics.
"It's a great chance for me to give back to a sporting community that gave a lot to me," said Martinson. "These kinds of opportunities for the kids are priceless and can totally change a kid's sporting career. I can't miss this kind of stuff."
In addition to basic drills in sprinting, hurdles and field events, the 72 athletes learned about goal-setting and general strength and conditioning before having an opportunity to ask Reed and the other coaches about their Olympic, World and Canadian experiences.
"I think it's just spectacular," said Johnson about the turnout. "I'm blown away at the support of our community and the support of our athletes here and their parents. I couldn't be happier because I know it's going towards a good cause and I know our athletes are benefitting from this experience."
It was also a bit of a training camp for Johnson in organizing the coaches, athletes and activities, something she'll be doing this summer as an administrator with Team B.C. at the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que.
"It's a good challenge because I've developed and think I'm ready for the task that's ahead of me," said Johnson, adding she's already put her application in to work on the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George. "I would never miss an opportunity to volunteer."
The 2015 CWG organizing committee needs more than 4,500 volunteers for the Feb. 13 to March 1 Games (less than 630 days away). Anyone interested in volunteering can fill out an online application at www.canadagames2015.ca.
