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| SPORTS - August 19, 2008 |
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LLB Post
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| Mason Torresan at the U-18 National Track and Field Championships in Sherbrooke, Quebec, where he took fourth in the 100-metre sprint and fifth in the 200-metre. |
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| LLB sprinter runs up respect at national track competition |
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By Andre Delaire
Post Staff
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Local teen Mason Torresan is one of the fastest Albertan’s under the age of 18.
This summer, the 17-year-old took first in the 200-metre sprint at a provincial track and field meet, and finished second in the 100-metre.
At the national level, Torresan is in the top five after recently taking fourth in the 100-metre sprint, and fifth in the 200-metre at the U-18 National Track and Field Championships in Sherbrooke, Que.
"It actually went better than I expected," the J.A. William Grade 12 student said last Thursday, two days after returning home to Lac La Biche.
A few weeks before the U-18 Championship race, Torresan’s coach had the young athlete compete against runners two to three years older at the U-20 National Track and Field Championships in Abbotsford, B.C. Although physically prepared for that race, Torresan wasn’t mentally prepared, but still finished 14th out of 40 in the 200-metre, and 20th out of 40 in the 100-metre. Despite not finishing in the top 10, the U-20 Championship prepared him for Quebec.
"I’m very happy that I got to go to Abbotsford first because that definitely prepared me mentally for [the juvenile races in Quebec]. I felt much more comfortable at that meet."
Torresan said he was much calmer in Quebec and focused solely on the race ahead of him.
"Instead of thinking at the start line of all the different things I have to do like my arm springs and high knees, I just thought: I’m going to run."
Until next year ...
The outdoor track and field season is now over, but Torresan plans on sticking with his strict exercise regime.
"I will be training extremely hard, just getting ready for next year," he said.
Although Torresan hasn’t decided if he will follow the indoor track and field season, he’s definitely not giving up running, with plans to race in 2009’s World Junior Championships, Pan Am Championships, and the Grade 12 student will also be returning to the U-18 National Championship with plans to take at least one medal home.
He only started sprint running professionally this summer after being recruited by an Olympic coach from the Edmonton Sprint Academy. Torresan said he’s noticed so many changes in his running technique in the last month, that he can only imagine how fast he will be a year down the road.
"I’ve already made so much improvement in just a month," he said. "I’m anxious to see how I’m going to be in a year."
As for his dream to run in the Olympics, Torresan said it’s not really a dream anymore — it’s something he’s working towards.
"It’s more than just a wish. It’s something I have to quit wishing for and start preparing for." |
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