Tyler Dozzi continued his winning ways down in Langley at the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championship that happened August 15-17.
Dozzi took a bronze metal in the U16 category for the 2,000 metre race with a time of 5:50.96 and fourth in the steeplechase.
The steeplechase is done on the same track but the distance is 1,500 metres and there are hurdles placed around it.
Dozzi qualified for this national competition by placing first and second at this year’s BC Summer Games in the 2,000 metre and 1,200 metre.
His success in the upper echelons of track and field for his age group was somewhat against the odds, as he self-trained and has no club affiliation, going it alone on the only track in Terrace, located at Caledonia Sr. Secondary School.
“It’s asphalt here, but we actually race on a rubberized track and you have spikes on bottom of the shoes for speed,” he said.
He says he is eyeing clubs in southern B.C. where he could have a better track to run and more access to coaching.
He said next year he wants to try out for Team BC and compete again in the national competition.
He will be a younger competitor in the U17 level next year which means it will be tougher for him to get individual times good enough for access to the Legion meet.
“It was awesome,” he said of travelling south for the race.