Alberta Speed School

I got the privilege of attending Legion Nationals in 2023 as a second year u18, in only my second season as a club track athlete. Going to nationals was one of the most unforgettable experiences I’ve had as a young track athlete. I hit standard that year and competed in the 100m. Being relatively new to the sport, I was unsure what to expect when given the opportunity to compete at such a high level, in a different province, surrounded by new culture and language, but it was incredibly eye-opening. I learned what dedication it takes to perform at this level and the composure you must maintain in competition where stress can be high, in order to be successful. Don’t let the call centre intimidate you too much, it can be scary when there are many new faces you haven’t raced against before and many different languages but see that as something new to embrace and use it as time for yourself to focus on you and what you need to do before you go out there. Make it fun, when they walk you down to the start line it can feel like you are in the olympics, it feels like the real deal so treat it as that, you deserve it if you made it that far. My advice to younger athletes is to take every opportunity you can to compete in new places and at new levels, push yourself out of your comfort zone because that’s where you will do some of the best things in life. There is so much importance to truly appreciating an experience rather than letting your nerves overcome you completely and take away from it. Ron has given me so many opportunities throughout this sport and if you have the pleasure of being coached by him, you will do great things with great support behind you. Take every chance you get and enjoy every moment along the way.

Sincerely,
Eiley Morrison
Alberta Speed School team captain
Open athlete, ASAA & AA 100m gold medalist