Hetherton going global

Chloe Hehterton is about to make her first foray onto the international track and field scene.

The 16-year-old Grade 11 student at St. Mary High School learned Monday that she will head to Bressanone, Italy, for the International Association of Athletics Federations Youth World Championships. Hetherton will compete for Canada in the triple jump.

"I didn't really know what to think," she said Tuesday. "I was just kind of caught off-guard, I guess, because I wasn't expecting to hear about it, but I was really excited. I'm really happy."

Hetherton achieved distances of 12.07 and 12.22 metres at the high school provincial meet in Prince Albert on June 6, but only the shorter distance counted with Athletics Canada, because the wind was above the allowable limit for the other.

Hetherton thus had to count on the Canada Summer Games trials in Regina on June 14 - just one week before the qualifying window closed for the youth worlds.

In Regina, Hetherton jumped 12.26 metres, well short of her personal best of 12.71, but good enough to earn the trip to Italy.

"I felt pretty good, because with my jumps there was no wind and I met the standard," Hetherton said. "My hopes were high."

By Sunday's qualifying deadline, three Canadian girls had achieved a qualifying standard, but each country can enter a maximum of two athletes in any event. Caroline Ehrhardt of Espanola, Ont., jumped 12.71 equalling Hetherton's mark from last year's high school provincials, while Taylor Neely of Midland, Ont., posted a leap of 12.12.

"It's really important for us to do well in the field events," said Hugh Conlin, head coach of the youth national team. "It's an area that we're weak, so we need good athletes like Chloe and Caroline. It was really good to have three athletes in triple jump qualify, because in many events we didn't have any."

In girls' long jump, javelin, heptathlon and race-walking, Canada won't have any representation at the world championships.

Hetherton is looking forward to receiving her Maple Leaf uniform and getting to know her teammates.

"It'll be nice to make some new friends," she said. "That'll be fun."

There is one other athlete from Saskatchewan on the team. Hetherton's friend Michelle Young of Saskatoon will compete in the 400-metre hurdles.

On July 2, Hehterton will begin a busy two days of travel. She'll go from Prince Albert to Saskatoon, then fly to Toronto. There, she'll meet other members of the national team and receive her Team Canada apparel before flying to Dusseldorf, Germany. The Canadians will bus to Italy from there.

Hetherton hopes to make it into the final round, which would put her in the top 10 or 12 in the world. The distance required is likely to be about 12.50 metres.

The world event runs July 8-12.

tpruner@paherald.sk.ca