Many will say the quality of high school track and field athletes these days in Toronto has come a long way since the days of Ben Johnson - remember him?
The sprinter from Yorkdale High, a school that no longer exists, brought headlines for Canada around the world - but for the wrong reason. Johnson, who went on to compete for Canada at the Olympics, tested positive for using performance enhancing drugs.
Fast forward and Toronto high schoolers have done fairly well at the Ontario level - and without steroids. Some, have done even better - after the annual provincial high school finals. Many only use the high school sport for their bigger plans and more serious commitment to track clubs.
The question, though, what about the future of this sport in Toronto schools?
Participation numbers are down for Toronto Public schools. Some say as much as 15 per cent this year over the previous one. Could it be because of interest in other sports? Maybe academics has taken over as a top priority? Are students fed up with the sport, just had enough? What about coaching - is it as good as it was in past?
I can’t understand why the new crop of high school teachers are not coaching in the numbers they did in previous years? Hmm, I do believe many of them did participate in school sports - even track and field - back then - and people did give up their time to coach them?
Something also needs to be said about student athletes devoting attention to practice - and not just showing up for a championship race.
Let’s see what happens this year - the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association track and field finals set for June 5 to 7 at Mohawk Park in Hamilton.
Ian Warner and Mohammed Dhaqane, both from Birchmount Park - the school with an exceptional athlete program - set Ontario records last year.
Will there be any this year?
