Middle-distance runner Alex Giesbrecht is embracing life in the fast lane.
A case in point was last week’s Northwest district track and field championships, in which the Holy Rosary High School student broke two intermediate boys’ district records at home in Lloydminster.
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In convincing fashion, he qualified for Saskatchewan’s provincial high school championship meet this Friday and Saturday in Moose Jaw.
In steaming heat, Giesbrecht ran the 1,500 metres in 4:31.50 early Thursday, just hours after running the 3,000 metres in 9:54.33 the night before.
“For my 1,500 time, I broke my personal best by one second,” the Grade 9 student said after Thursday’s race.
“For the 3K, I didn’t end up breaking my personal best, because it was super windy and super hot last night. It was probably, like, 25 C, and today was even hotter.”
Now, he’s welcoming the heat that comes with facing the best in the province.
“I think it’s going to be really good,” said the lanky and lean Giesbrecht, about six feet and 130 pounds. “Hopefully, there’s going to be competition for people my age group. It’ll really push me to get more better times.”
Because of the heat wave during districts, “I hydrated a lot more than before,” he said. “I also noticed, during my race, my throat was super dry the whole time, so I had to keep swallowing and that really took me off my pace.”
Helping push Giesbrecht’s pace in the 3,000 was Rossignol’s William
McGonigle, the senior division champion in both the 1,500 and 3,000 races.
“It was good competition,” Giesbrecht said. “He was right behind me the whole time. It was good to have somebody to pace off.”
The senior and junior runners didn’t run simultaneously with Giesbrecht’s intermediate division in the 1,500.
“So, sadly I didn’t have anybody to push me to go further, but it was still good.”
Resounding results have followed Giesbrecht on the track for years, whether it’s at the school or club levels.
Giesbrecht is as dedicated as they come, says Holy Rosary coach Ryley Miller.
“I’ve coached Alex for two years, going on three, and for as long as I’ve known him, he’s been one of the most coachable, self-driven athletes that I’ve had the pleasure of coaching,” Miller said.
“He’s always been a very natural talent. I push him in the right direction, and he improves tenfold. The sky is the limit for Alex. He’s very dedicated.”
School track is just part of the equation for Giesbrecht, who competes year-round while running club track with the Split City Sonics.
Before he celebrates his 15th birthday later this month, Giesbrecht hopes to reach another milestone in Moose Jaw. He’s shooting for provincial records in both the 1,500 and the 3,000.
“Those are my two big goals,” he said.
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