BY HEVEN WIDDEN
for northern life
A Chelmsford Valley District Composite School (CVDC) student
gave a new meaning to the phrase 'home of the flyers' last week
when he set new NOSSA records in both long jump and triple
jump.
He competed in the senior long jump, triple jump and high jump events and will be moving on to OFSSA in the triple jump and long jump events. 
He placed first and set new NOSSA records in both triple jump and long jump events and he placed fourth in high jump.
"He comes with a ton of talent," said CVDC's track and field coach, Doug Crawford.  "That boy has springs."
Gardiner holds the city records for junior high jump, both junior and senior triple jump and senior long jump.  He also holds the NOSSA records for senior long jump and both junior and senior triple jump.
Gardiner almost lost his senior long jump record on Friday, when Dave Thibert, of Macdonald-Cartier Secondary School, leaped and broke Gardiner's 2005 record but Gardiner came soaring right after him to re-break the record.
The new NOSSA long jump record Gardiner set is 6.65m and the new triple jump record he set is 13.85m.
Gardiners' best events are triple jump and long jump and his worst is high jump, although he is still good at it. 
"Triple jump may be his best on a provincial stage," Crawford said.
CVDC track and field athletes train four times a week to get ready for track and field.  They run and do stretches and practice in their events. 
"I do alot of stregth training in the winter months then mostly technical stuff once the weather is nice enough to be out on the track," Gardiner said.
According to Crawford, GArdiner also helps train some of the other athletes.
"He's developed into a really good coach for other jumpers."
For an 18-year old boy he's very gentle with others who don't have his talent."
Off-season Gardiner trains with Track North Athletic Club and plays on the CVDC senior boys basketball team.
Gardiner will be in Toronto June 1st to 3rd to participate in OFSAA.
This may be his last year competing in track. 
"There is no track and field team for colleges in Ontario and college is where I am heading next year."
