Hay River celebrates 25th year of N.W.T. Track and Field Championships
Event has nearly doubled in size since it first started 25 years ago
The Northwest Territories Track and Field Championships wrap up today in Hay River, Northwest Territories, concluding a 25th anniversary celebration for the ages.
Over 1,000 youth from across the territory took to the track for the yearly event, held beside Hay River's Diamond Jenness Secondary School. That number is over double the amount that participated in the event's first iteration, one that organizer Guy Turvey remembers fondly.
"The track that was here was a dirt track," he said, "and in those days, there used to be trees out in the middle of this field, which were taken down. And the track was build with volunteers."
The track has been modernized and looks far different now, but may of the spectators are the same, including Bob White, who was part of the first event.
"It was the 5000 metres, and we didn't have lap counters," he said. "And, if you can imagine, they [the athletes] kept saying: 'how many more?'
"And we'd say: 'you're doing great.' And when we told them there was no way to sanction the race [because of the lack of lap counters], they all just laughed and hugged each other, and we knew this was a go.
"Sportsmanship is what we pride ourselves in, and it's been that way for 25 years."
Olympians, dignitaries in town for opening ceremonies
The opening ceremonies for the event were held Wednesday on a local field, a break from recent years, when they were held in the town's arena.
Athletes were treated to a performance from Yellowknife rapper Godson, as well as appearances from homegrown Olympian Brendan Green, as well as Yellowknife's Michael Gilday and Aklavik's Sharon Firth. MLAs from across the territory were also present at the event.
The Olympic athletes were there to inspire, but also to echo the message of sportsmanship present at the first event 25 years ago.
"Since we're at track and field, we're going to run hard, we're going to jump hard, throw hard," said Gilday, as he spoke to the crowd, "and most importantly, we're going to cheer for our teammates. Can I get a cheer?"
The students were more than happy to oblige, a sentiment that was not lost on veteran White.
"That's what I love about this track meet," he said. "The way it started is the way it's continued"