Olympic aspirations driving sprinter to the top

BY LAUREL MYERS

Celine Loyer is chasing a dream, and at the speed she's going, she'll catch it in no time.

The 19-year-old sprinter will be representing the province at the 2008 Ontario Summer Games, to be held in Ottawa, August 14-15, competing in the 100-metre sprint and the 4x100-metre relay.

A phone call two weeks ago had Loyer pegged as a hopeful to compete at the games. It wasn't until Monday the spot was officially hers.

"Ontario, alone, is the most competitive province for sprints," she said. "When I found out I made it for sprints at the Ontario Summer Games, it was great news. I was very happy, not only to represent my province, but also my hometown."

Loyer's running career started out with a certain level of disinterest in Grade 11 when she joined the track team at her high school.

"I wasn't putting much into it," she admitted.

However, after her high school coach introduced her to DSSG Athletics Club running coach David Case, the disinterest quickly blossomed into full-hearted dedication when Case saw potential in the former Sacre Coeur student.
That was in 2005 and she's been streaking by the competition ever since, on tracks across Ontario and in the United States.

Her signature event is the 100-metre sprint - what Case described as the most competitive area of track and field.
"Ontario usually cranks out the majority of the fastest sprinters in the country and it's been that way for over 40 years," he said. "In southern Ontario and the Niagara (region), you've got the largest population of people, so they have the cream of the crop to choose from.

"Making a provincial team... can be very difficult because there's so much depth in sprinting in Ontario," he continued. "Other events.. lack depth, so, therefore, it's easier to medal.

"Everyone wants to be a sprinter, and it makes it really tough because there are so many talented sprinters in Ontario."

Loyer said her perseverance, dedication and passion toward the sport have made her a bright light amongst the hordes of sprinters in the province.

"I'm the type of girl who just loves a good competition," she said. "I love the adrenaline of racing against someone. It's an individual sport, so it's all about you."

The 2008 Ontario Summer Games will be Loyer's second time competing as part of a provincial team. In 2006, she ran for Ontario in New York for the National High School Indoor Track and Field Championships.

"It was my first time and I was a little nervous," the sprinter said of her first provincial experience. "I was suffering from an injury before it and I could have done way better, but it was just the experience of being there and competing with some really strong American athletes."

She said that experience has helped prepare her for her next big event in August.

"I've matured and got to know my body even more," she said. "Two years later, I've learned many new things from my coach, and we've tried different things, which have helped me greatly in my training to help me pursue my goals.
"That said, I've achieved all my goals this year," she added. "Knowing that, I'm confident I'll perform well at the Ontario Summer Games."

As for her goals for this set of races, she's hoping to be the one to tear the ribbon at the finish line, but will be happy to make it to the finals.

"Of course getting a gold would be awesome, but at this point, even making the finals would be good," she said.

Although she excels as an individual at her sport, she said the Summer Games are about her relay team more than her personal successes this time around. The games will mark her first time running as part of a relay team and she said it's the reason she's looking forward to it so much.

 "I hope my relay team gets a spot on the podium, as well," she said. "I have great expectations."

Case described the Ontario Summer Games as "the mini Olympics," and was ecstatic the young athlete had been offered an opportunity to participate.

"I've seen her come up from just being a 'regular' local athlete to becoming a nationally ranked junior sprinter," he said. "I'm very happy for her, she's worked very hard."

Loyer commended a number of people for getting her to where she is today, including her parents, her coach David Case, Laurentian University Athletic therapist Shawn Charron who brought her back from a reoccurring injury, and College Boréal, where she is currently a massage therapy student. She also wanted to thank all the local organizations for their support.

"They've all helped me in my quest for the 2012 Summer Olympics," she said.