Alonsa Athletes Medal at 2017 North American Indigenous Games
With representation from all ten provinces, two territories, and nine US states, the competition was stacked at this year’s version of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). Toronto was the stage for the 2017 event (last held in Regina in 2014), and more specifically, York University’s Lions Stadium, the platform for Athletics (track &field). Two days after joining the 5,000 plus athletes and 11,000 plus spectators at the events’ opening ceremonies, held at the Aviva Center, three Alonsa athletes, Caleb Rudkewich, Tyson Fiddler, and Brooklyn Knaggs, embarked on what has to be considered a successful three days of Athletics competition.
Both Rudkewich (19 years old) and Fiddler (17 years old) competed in the Men’s 19U category while, despite being 16 years of age, Knaggs competed in the Women’s 19U category. All three athletes are Alonsa School trained multi-event (pentathlon) athletes. Unfortunately, no multi-event category was offered at this year’s NAIG, forcing the trio to compete in the specialty events against specifically event trained athletes. Nevertheless, they were not to be denied their measure of success.
Rudkewich and Fiddler teamed up with two other Manitoba athletes to form a formidable 4 x 100 relay team that challenged for gold. In the final with Rudkewich running the second leg and Fiddler the third, it was a matter of less than a step difference that resulted in Saskatchewan taking gold and Rudkewich/Fiddler’s Team Manitoba earning silver, more than a second ahead of third place, Wisconsin. Rudkewich followed up his 4 x 100m silver with a bronze in the high jump. His 1.78m bronze jump was a mere 2cm lower than the gold and silver medalists from Saskatchewan and British Columbia, respectively. Rudkewich and Fiddler also competed in the 100m, shot put, and long jump events. Rudkewich placed 4th in the shot put and 6th in both the 100m and the long jump. Fiddler placed 11th in the shot put, 12th in the 100m, and 19th in the long jump. Both Rudkewich and Fiddler were bronze medalists at the MHSAA 2016 Provincial Track and Field Championships in the multi-event.
Knaggs, who is this year’s MHSAA defending multi-event (pentathlon) gold medalist and provincial record holder, missed out on competing in the 16U category by a mere 16 days by way of a December birthday. Despite being categorically the youngest competitor in the competition, Knaggs achieved success as well. She started by earning a bronze in the shot put with a personal best toss of 8.89m and then set another personal best in the long jump. Her jump of 4.69m earned her a silver medal in the event with only 19-year-old Courtney Thrun of Saskatchewan beating her jump. In addition to these two medal performances, Knaggs competed in the 100m, 200m, high jump, and was the anchor of the 4 x 100m relay team. Ironically, she placed just out of the medals (4th place) in all these events. Her 100m time was .02 seconds behind the bronze medalist and .07 seconds behind the silver.
Other than athletics, Alonsa also featured Ashley Schultz, who was a member of the Team Manitoba Volleyball team, which had a successful six win - two loss record at the championships. Unfortunately, one of their losses came in the quarterfinals to the eventual bronze winning Team Ontario squad. It left them out of medal contention but a successful run nonetheless.
Moving forward, Rudkewich, who has graduated, is hoping to attend the U of M with intentions of competing on the U of M track team. Fiddler and Knaggs are both grade 12 students this year. They both intend to continue training with the Alonsa School Track Team, while Knaggs has her sights set on bettering her record setting Pentathlon performance this past year.
Both Rudkewich (19 years old) and Fiddler (17 years old) competed in the Men’s 19U category while, despite being 16 years of age, Knaggs competed in the Women’s 19U category. All three athletes are Alonsa School trained multi-event (pentathlon) athletes. Unfortunately, no multi-event category was offered at this year’s NAIG, forcing the trio to compete in the specialty events against specifically event trained athletes. Nevertheless, they were not to be denied their measure of success.
Rudkewich and Fiddler teamed up with two other Manitoba athletes to form a formidable 4 x 100 relay team that challenged for gold. In the final with Rudkewich running the second leg and Fiddler the third, it was a matter of less than a step difference that resulted in Saskatchewan taking gold and Rudkewich/Fiddler’s Team Manitoba earning silver, more than a second ahead of third place, Wisconsin. Rudkewich followed up his 4 x 100m silver with a bronze in the high jump. His 1.78m bronze jump was a mere 2cm lower than the gold and silver medalists from Saskatchewan and British Columbia, respectively. Rudkewich and Fiddler also competed in the 100m, shot put, and long jump events. Rudkewich placed 4th in the shot put and 6th in both the 100m and the long jump. Fiddler placed 11th in the shot put, 12th in the 100m, and 19th in the long jump. Both Rudkewich and Fiddler were bronze medalists at the MHSAA 2016 Provincial Track and Field Championships in the multi-event.
Knaggs, who is this year’s MHSAA defending multi-event (pentathlon) gold medalist and provincial record holder, missed out on competing in the 16U category by a mere 16 days by way of a December birthday. Despite being categorically the youngest competitor in the competition, Knaggs achieved success as well. She started by earning a bronze in the shot put with a personal best toss of 8.89m and then set another personal best in the long jump. Her jump of 4.69m earned her a silver medal in the event with only 19-year-old Courtney Thrun of Saskatchewan beating her jump. In addition to these two medal performances, Knaggs competed in the 100m, 200m, high jump, and was the anchor of the 4 x 100m relay team. Ironically, she placed just out of the medals (4th place) in all these events. Her 100m time was .02 seconds behind the bronze medalist and .07 seconds behind the silver.
Other than athletics, Alonsa also featured Ashley Schultz, who was a member of the Team Manitoba Volleyball team, which had a successful six win - two loss record at the championships. Unfortunately, one of their losses came in the quarterfinals to the eventual bronze winning Team Ontario squad. It left them out of medal contention but a successful run nonetheless.
Moving forward, Rudkewich, who has graduated, is hoping to attend the U of M with intentions of competing on the U of M track team. Fiddler and Knaggs are both grade 12 students this year. They both intend to continue training with the Alonsa School Track Team, while Knaggs has her sights set on bettering her record setting Pentathlon performance this past year.