Airdrie Aces athletes showed they are a force to be reckoned with at the Golden Bear Open indoor track and field meet at the University of Alberta, Jan. 18 to 20. The Aces sent a contingent of 10 athletes from the midget and junior age groups to Alberta’s capital to compete at the event, with several bringing home personal bests – and a few medals to boot. “It’s our first big meet of the indoor season, and it’s for Alberta and neighbouring provinces,” said Jodie Matsuba-Szucs, Aces president and middle-distance running coach. The most notable performance from Airdrie’s crop of athletes included middle-distance runner Aiden Good, who earned the gold medal in the U18 men’s 1,000 metre (m). Good’s time earned him the number-one ranking in Alberta for his age group for the 1,000 m, and placed him in the top three for Canada. The 16-year-old rounded out his successful weekend in Edmonton by taking home the silver medal in the U18 600 m with a time of 1:25.63 – putting him in the top five nationwide for the category. “He’s a very dedicated athlete, which is why he’s my team captain,” Matsuba-Szucs said. “He’s doing everything I’ve expected him to do.” Next up for Good – a Grade-11 student at Hugh Sutherland School in Carstairs – will be the Air Force Academy track meet, in Denver, Colo., where he will compete in the 800 m. Matsuba-Szucs said Good is also running up to 50 kilometres a week to prepare for the Simplot Games, from Feb. 12 to 17. Held at Idaho State University, the event is one of the premier indoor track and field competitions for high-school aged athletes in North America. According to Matsuba-Szucs, roughly 2,200 athletes will compete in the Simplot Games this year. “I’m expecting [Good] to not only make the final, but also podium,” she said. Another Ace who shined at the Golden Bear Open was throws athlete Jinaye Shomachuk, who picked up gold in the U18 women’s weight throw. Shomachuk’s distance of 18.46 m set a new record for U18 women in Alberta, according to Matsuba-Szucs. “It’s amazing for her to keep doing what she’s been doing,” Matsuba-Szucs said. The 15-year-old Bert Church High School student also earned first place in the women’s U18 shot put event, with a throw of 12.33 m. Other Aces medalists included Michael Stewart, who took home silver in the men’s U20 600 m with a personal best of 1:26.76, and throws athlete Parker Allen, who won the men’s U20 weight throw competition with a distance of 17.38 m. Sarah Cole, Hunter Aman, Rebeca Agoston and Jasmine Szucs earned silver for Airdrie in the U18 women’s 4 x 200-m relay, with a time of 1:56.91. While Matsuba-Szucs said it’s great to see positive results during the indoor track season, making sure the athletes are in tip-top shape when the snow melts is the Aces’ main priority. “Winter is always just prep for the outdoor season,” she said. “We’re right on schedule. Everyone is training hard and running fast.”
