NEAT wins Club of the Year award
Local track club receives prestigious honour at annual awards in Edmonton
The North East Alberta Track Club, based in St. Paul, won the Club of the Year award at the 2011 Athletics Alberta Annual Awards, which took place at the Palace Banquet & Conference Facility in Edmonton on Feb. 11.
Head coach Reg Green was present at the ceremony and said he was a little surprised the club won the award. This is the second time they’ve won it since forming in St. Paul in the late ‘80s.
“It's so hard to really know because of the city clubs. Two or three clubs are our size in Edmonton and a couple in Calgary,” Green explained. “I knew we would probably be in the running because it's based on our provincials, which were held last July in Edmonton and Calgary.”
Green attributes the award to the talent and commitment of the athletes who come from all over the northeastern Alberta area to train in St. Paul, especially during the winter season when training is done indoors at the Regional High School.
“Most of the kids we have are very dedicated and are top flight athletes,” he said. “I have a girl that comes from Wainwright, a girl from Elk Point, some from Mallaig, Cold Lake and a couple from Lac La Biche. We basically take the whole northeast quarter of the province.”
According to Green, very little recruiting is necessary as the athletes encourage their friends to try out, at which point the coaches evaluate with the help of their parents.
“I usually meet with them and talk to them,” he said regarding prospective members. “I like talking to the parents to find out where the kid is. Usually we’ll let them come for a couple sessions before we have them fill out our registration.”
The club has 27 athletes representing all track and field events, minus pole vault due to a lack of a facility. The absence of proper training facilities like those provided for clubs in cities with colleges and universities has had little effect.
“We hold our own with every club in the province,” he said. “When you take into consideration where we train in the winter and where they train and then put us on a track together it’s really something.”
“It’s the kids that are really here to work and it’s them that pull it out,” he added. “They do it for themselves.”
Acting as founder and ranking old-timer, Green said he’s not sure about how long he’ll be with the club, but is certain it’s in the right hands with other coaches Albert Harmse and Loree Laramee on board.
“I’m getting to be a little old,” he said. “We’ve got three of us right now that are committed. I’ll be around for a while, but coaching-wise I don’t know. We’ll have to see.”
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