by Kyle Wells [email protected] Calli-Ann Abbott from Powell River recently received the 2011 BC Athletics Junior Development Award for her achievements in the 200-metre hurdle.
Abbott, who is 13 years old and a student at Oceanview Middle School, received the award at a luncheon presentation at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver. The awards are handed out to the best young athletes by BC Athletics, a non-profit amateur sport organization that promotes participation in athletics.
The criteria for the award is set by taking the top average of the top three times from the all time top 10 list of results. That number is then altered to reflect factors given to a specific type of event, such as runs, jumps, throws and pentathlon. In order to qualify for the award the athlete must compete in at least three approved meets and one approved championship over the course of 12 months.
For the 200-metre hurdle for girls the time to beat for 13-year-olds is 30.06 seconds. She had to beat that time at least once during the season to qualify for the award. Abbott ran the hurdles in 29.91 seconds at a track meet in Duncan and ran it in 30.42 seconds at the BC Junior Development Championships in Kamloops in June.
Free time is rare for Abbott who spends most of her time out of school doing homework, training or playing in team sports. Abbott plays hockey, soccer, volleyball, participates in track and field and she is joining the school basketball team. The rule is homework first, sports second and fun comes in at third place.
“I want to be an Olympian,” said Abbott. “I want to be in the summer and the winter Olympics because I can do both, if I make it.”
Next up for Abbott is the under-16 qualifier for the BC Winter Games in hockey. Abbott will also be trying out for the BC Summer Games in track and field in the spring.
