When Hannah Tuininga, a 14 year-old Neerlandia Public Christian School (NPCS) student, first decided to try to qualify for the Alberta Summer Games, she had no idea that she would eventually be competing against athletes two and three years older.
But that is exactly what happened to Tuininga about two weeks ago when she went to Leduc to compete in the triple jump, high jump and long jump on July 14 to 17. Not only did she compete, but she excelled, finishing the event with a bronze medal in the triple jump, fourth in the high jump and fifth in the long jump.
“When I first qualified to represent our zone (Zone 5- Black Gold/Yellowhead), I was competing against people my age, other 14 and 15 year olds, but then we (our zone) didn’t have enough 16 and 17 year-olds who wanted to be on the team so then they moved up the best midgets (14 and 15) and I had to compete at the youth (16 and 17) level,” she said.
Tuininga qualified for the summer games at the St. Albert Challenge, on May 28, placing first in triple jump and second in long jump, adding she also tried out for the high jump, as well as the 100 and 200-metre events.
Qualifying for the summer games was just the latest accomplishment in Tuininga’s relatively short athletic career.
Last year in Grade 7 was the first time she had competed in competitive track and field. Competing as part of the NPCS track team Tuininga, qualified for the zone competition finishing first in four events: long jump, high jump, triple jump and the 100-metre dash. She also helped her school qualify for zones in the four by 100-metre relay team.
Then at the zones, Tuininga finished in first place in both high jump and long jump. She followed that up with a fourth place finish in the 100-metre dash and a fifth place finish as part of the four by 100-metre relay team.
It was this early success that made Tuininga consider trying out for the Alberta Summer games.
“I first found out about the games last year after the track and field season when I was surfing the Internet,” she said, adding she thought if she continued to improve and have strong showings competing with her school track team the Summer games could be a possibility.
Once again, Tuininga proved that she was capable of competing against the best in her age group. At the divisional track meet she finished in first place in all her events, the 100 and 200-metre dash, as well as the long jump and triple jump, qualifying for zones. At zones she won gold in the long and triple jumps and bronze in the 100 and 200-metre races.
After having finishing the school track and field season so strongly, Tuininga knew that qualifying for the Alberta Summer Games was within her reach. To bolster her chances she decided to go to a track and field clinic hosted by the St. Albert Mustang’s Track Club.
“It’s funny. Even though I finished in first and second place in the summer games zone qualifiers, I didn’t actually find out I had made the team until two weeks later when they sent me an email,” Tuininga said, adding it was through the email that she found out which events she would be participating and at what age level.
The coaches, in an effort to get to know their team organized two team practices before the summer games.
Tuininga said even though she knew she would be competing against athletes two to three years older, that fact didn’t really sink in until she arrived in Leduc.
“I must admit it was a little bit intimidating to know that I would be competing against older girls, but once I started I felt more comfortable,” she said. “I knew I could jump just as far as them, so I just went for it.”
As for what her favorite part of her summer games experience was, she said it wasn’t the competition itself or how well she did.
“Just seeing that many kids all together in one place that are so interested in sports and all the variety of sports and activities that are available, it was a real eye opener,” Tuininga said.
When asked about her future plans in athletics Tuininga said she will continue to be active in sports trying out for as many sports as she can, especially her two strongest, track and field and basketball, while keeping in the back of her mind another trip to the Alberta Summer Games.
“I would love to be able to go to the 2018 Alberta Summer Games in Grande Prairie in basketball and track and field,” she said.
