Smoke delays track and field provincials

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/06/2025 (350 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — The high school track and field provincial championships are now set to begin today after the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association determined it unsafe to compete on Thursday.

Smoky conditions made for poor air quality Wednesday evening with no signs conditions would improve by Thursday, according to MHSAA executive director Chad Falk.

MHSAA representatives were up at 5 a.m., on Thursday to monitor conditions and forecasts, ultimately calling the action off a few hours before the first events of the week.

“It didn’t move at all, it just got worse throughout the day,” Falk told the Sun Thursday afternoon. “We knew once (the air quality health index) hit seven or eight we’d have to look at postponing. It was quite high this morning and hasn’t moved at all so it looks like we made the right call in the end.”

The AQHI spiked on Saturday, towards the end of soccer, baseball and softball provincials following an otherwise manageable first few days of competition.

Ultimately, all three took place while Falk noted MHSAA closely monitored them and had plans in place to modify games per Health Canada recommendations.

They could have shortened soccer matches and dropped a few innings from softball and baseball games, but no such modifications are feasible for track and field events.

“If you read into the guidelines put out there by Health Canada, it all talks about levels of exertion,” Falk said. “Obviously, track and field has a very high level of exertion.”

MHSAA is optimistic about today since a forecasted south wind was projected to shift the smoke away from Winnipeg and clear the air overnight.

The organization is continually updating mhsaa.ca with the latest news to inform teams and spectators.

With only two days to complete a busy schedule, track events with semifinals like the 100-metre and 200-metre are going straight from heats to a final, with the eight fastest times regardless of heat winners qualifying.

All races 400m and longer are timed finals.

“I think the kids are OK with it,” said Vincent Massey Vikings coach Jason Jones. “Some kids like (JV girls sprinter) Soleil (Kaktins) would have had 100-metre heats, semis and final, she would have had two times … for triple jump, two times for long jump, plus 4×100 relay. Now she can give it all her best and one good effort and go on to her next thing.

“A kid like (varsity boys’ runner) Konnor Klemick can qualify for the final in the 400 by just winning his heat and go on to the final with a different mindset as to who I need to beat and how hard I need to run.

“You don’t run as fast normally when you’re not up against some serious competition.”

Field events have either one or two flights and will have finals featuring the top eight competitors receiving three more attempts. Only the athlete’s best jump or throw of the six counts.

Jones said the Vikings are taking the change in stride.

They arrived Wednesday evening to set up their tents at University of Manitoba Stadium and suddenly had to figure out how to keep a big group of excited athletes busy for a day.

Coaches Jones, Mike Steeves, Cassidy Jones and Jared Spearing put their heads together and decided to take the Vikings to Activate, an “active gaming facility” featuring rooms with different games where competitors work as teams to set high scores.

“You know teenagers, most of them are pretty fluid. They all kind of went with the flow,” Jones said. “It was awesome. The kids were all coming out of there all sweaty. They’re good, kept them out of the sun, kept them out of trouble, kept them out of the pool.”

The Vikings went for a team supper and settled down early to gear up for what’s hopefully two action-packed and medal-filled days ahead.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com

» Instagram: @thomasfriesen5