An eight-year-old girl at Harry Camsell School was the only competitor from Hay River to set a new record at the recent NWT Track & Field Championships.
Jersey Ashton set the record in standing long jump with a leap of 1.77 metres in the Tyke Girls Second Year division.
"I trained really hard and I'm proud of myself," said Ashton, when asked about setting a new record.
The Grade 3 student now holds two records at the NWT Track & Field Championships.
Last year, she set a record of 2.74 metres in long jump in the Tyke Girls First Year division.
Paul Bickford/NNSL photo
Along with the jumping events, Ashton competes as a runner.
"My favourite is jumping," she said.
Along from setting records, Ashton enjoys competing at the championships.
"The thing I like about track and field is we do a lot of events and it's good to get together with friends, and it's just really fun," she said.
Ashton also pointed out that she practises good sportsmanship, like shaking hands with competitors.
Becky Aylward, one of her coaches and a teacher at Harry Camsell School, knew Ashton would do well at the games.
"I think Jersey is just a talented all-round athlete," Aylward said. "She doesn't only participate in track and field."
Aylward noted Ashton is also involved in figure skating, hockey, gymnastics and softball.
At the NWT Track and Field Championships, she won a silver medal for finishing second overall in her division.
Aylward noted that this month's competition was the final time Ashton will be competing in standing long jump at the championships.
"At this age group, this is their last chance to do standing long jump," the coach said. "When she becomes a peewee, there is no standing long jump."
Records broken in 2019
The following 11 new records were set at the NWT Track & Field Championships, held from June 5 to 7 in Hay River.
- Tyke Boys First year
100 metres – Kole Lizotte; 16.29; St. Joseph School (Yellowknife)
High Jump – Cruz Beaudoin; 1.05 metres; Range Lake North School (Yellowknife)
- Tyke Boys Second year
100 metres – Gavin Rose; 15.47; St. Joseph School (Yellowknife)
- Tyke Girls Second year
Standing Long Jump – Jersey Ashton; 1.77 metres; Harry Camsell School (Hay River)
- Peewee Boys First year
200 metres – Zachary Mathison; 32.64; Weledeh Catholic School (Yellowknife)
Triple Jump – Zachary Mathison; 7.87 metres; Weledeh Catholic School (Yellowknife)
Long Jump – Zachary Mathison; 3.56 metres; Weledeh Catholic School (Yellowknife)
- Peewee Girls First year
Shot Put – Brooke Fabien; 7.09 metres; Deninu School (Fort Resolution)
- Peewee Boys Second year
High Jump – Wesley Lizotte; 1.37 metres; St. Joseph School (Yellowknife)
- Master Women
5000 Metres – Wendy Lahey; 31:39.00; J.H. Sissons School (Yellowknife)
- Master Men
800 Metres – Brett Wheler; 2:13.50; J.H. Sissons School (Yellowknife)