Farmer embarks on final Huskies hurrah

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Kendra Farmer does a practice run at the Track and Field Track.

Kendra Farmer plans to soak in and enjoy her U Sports track and field career before it is gone.

The 23-year-old Saskatoon product is embarking on her final season of U Sports eligibility with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Track and Field Team. After graduating from Centennial Collegiate in June of 2017, Farmer, who is a sprints specialist, joined the Huskies in the fall of that year and has been with that program ever since.

During the spring and summer months, Farmer is a regular at the Track and Field Track on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds training and racing as a competitor and coaching young athletes with the Running Wild Athletics Club.

“I feel like every year I’ve kind of went in just really like always looking like performance wise for myself,” said Farmer. “I think this year obviously I would love to improve on my performances from last year.

“I think I am just really like going in and just like excited to and ready to just like embrace the experience fully. I think I am just like planning on just like taking it all in (and) hopefully passing on the love and the spirit to all the new rookies and the rest of the athletes on the team to move on forward with the Huskies spirit. Honestly, it is weird for sure.

“I thankfully have had my time to accept that this will be my last year.”

Last season with the Huskies, Farmer won silver in the women’s 300-metre race and gold in the women’s 4 X 200-metre and 4 X 400-metre relays at the Canada West championships. She helped the Huskies capture a fourth consecutive Canada West team title.

Farmer ran the 300-metre final at the Canada West championships in a time of 38.32 seconds, which was a new record for the Huskies women’s team. The old mark of 38.44 seconds was posted by Joanne McTaggart back in 1975.

Farmer said that record and the fact the Huskies women’s team has won the Canada West title in her previous four seasons of eligibility are her biggest highlights with the program.

“Breaking the Huskie record last year in 300-metre (race) was a huge goal for me kind of honestly since I started Huskies,” said Farmer, who stand 5-foot-5. “That was a really big personal accomplishment.

Kendra Farmer takes flight at the Canada Summer Games Trials.

“Team wise, I think just like showing up with the girls every year and getting that Canada West banner and getting those second place U Sports performances. Both of those have just like been really exciting, and I’ve just like have seen our team bond more and more each year. Just getting closer and getting those wins together has been really awesome.”

At the U Sports championships, Farmer took home silver medals in the women’s 4 X 200-metre and 4 X 400-metre relays. She helped the Huskies team finish second overall.

Farmer was also named the winner of the outstanding Student-Athlete Community Service Award at both the Canada West and U Sports championships. She has also been a U Sports academic all-Canadian for the past five straight campaigns including the 2020-21 campaign where all U Sports nationals were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world and athletes still pursued their studies.

This season, Farmer will get to go out with a couple of special opportunities to go along with taking part in the Sanderson Classic to be held at the Saskatoon Fieldhouse on January 13 and 14, 2023. The Huskies will host the Canada West Championships on February 24 and 25, 2023 and the U Sports Championships on March 9 to 11, 2023 at the Saskatoon Fieldhouse.

The Huskies last hosted the U Sports Championships way back in the 2005-06 campaign. Farmer will get to graduate from the Huskies with her last two big meets to be held at home.

“It is pretty cool,” said Farmer, who studies in the engineering program at U of S. “It will be really fun ending it in front of a home crowd.

“It will be a little more nerve-racking, because I have all of the family and friends here. That is also awesome, because there is more support. We’ll have all of the cheers and the big crowd too.

“It is a pretty cool way to end my career. I’m excited about that. That will be sweet.”

Jason Reindl, who is the head coach of both the U of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams, found it hard to put into words what it has meant to have Farmer as part of the women’s team. Reindl became the Huskies head coach in June of 2017, and he said Farmer has been key creating a great vibe and culture for the program.

“I cannot put the amount of positives into words,” said Reindl. “She was one of the first main recruits when I took over in the summer of 2017 that was coming into the program.

Kendra Farmer, second from left, was Huskies rookie of the year in 2017-18.

“Just her leadership and her development, the support that she has really given this program has been I’ll use the term remarkable.”

Reindl is happy he gets to coach Farmer with the Huskies for one more season and that she will have two special opportunities in her final season with the Huskies hosting conference and national championships.

“It is going to be a little bit of a unique year in the sense that we are hosting both the Canada West and the U Sports championships,” said Reindl. “For her to end her Huskies career as a fifth year of eligibility with the two biggest meets of the year at home, it is going to be a pretty special opportunity for her, her family, her friends and just all the relationships she has made over these last couple of years, because everyone is going to be able to come out and support her and the rest of the team.”

Farmer said one of the big turning points in her track and field career was winning the Patricia Lawson Trophy Huskies Female Rookie of the Year for the entire Huskies program in 2017-18.

“I can tell you when I got that award I was not expecting it,” said Farmer, who also claimed the Huskies Track and Field female rookie of the year award that is named after McTaggart. “That was a really exciting experience for me.

“I think that was really good, because it kind of solidified me as actually a Huskie that can go on and do things. I had expectations for myself, but I didn’t really know how far I would be able to go. I think getting that award really kind of helped step up my goals a bit.

“After that kind of first year, it was when I really kind of started eyeing down those records that Huskie 300-metre record and getting some of the higher-level awards, which I guess would be a goal for me this year as well. That was a big kind of moment for me just in terms of like, ‘OK. I’m actually not bad at this sport. I can go places.’ That was exciting.”

Going into her final season with the Huskies, Farmer had some highlights during the outdoor season. At the Track and Field Track on the Complex grounds, Farmer won gold in the women’s 200-metre at the Canada Summer Games Trials on June 12 and the Bob Adam’s Saskatchewan Track and Field Championships. She also captured a silver in the women’s 400-metre at the Summer Games Trials on June 11.

At the Canada Summer Games held in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Farmer helped Saskatchewan win a bronze medal in the women’s 4 X 100-metre relay on August 19.

Farmer wants to help the Huskies win a fifth Canada West team championship this season. 

Kendra Farmer helps coach with the Running Wild Athletics Club.

Once the U Sports season wraps up, she wants to keep competing in track and field and plans to continue to be a regular at the Track and Field Track.

“I don’t think I’m quite ready to give up on this sport yet,” said Farmer, who is a member of the Central Urban Metis Federation Incorporated. “I think I’ll definitely hang around for a little while.

“I love this community and just what track has done for me over the years and who it has all connected me with. I definitely want to keep going. I’ll for sure have another outdoor season after Huskies this year.

“I’m going to keep going kind of until I reach my limit. I know I’m not ready to go until I kind of reach that top point where I feel like I’ve gotten to the point where I can. I’d love obviously to make a national team at some point.”

Happiness and glee fills air at sport camps

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Two youngsters take part in a Spark Park ultimate Frisbee game.

Kids are being allowed to be kids again during the summer months at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

In July and currently in August, children and young athletes have had lots of chances to become active on the Complex grounds. They’ve had the option of taking part in weekly Spark Park Summer Sport Camps run by Ignite Athletics in partnership with the Complex and weekly track and field camps overseen by the Running Wild Athletics Club.

With activities in the 2020-21 school year hampered by restrictions and Public Health Orders that were brought in to battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Jason Price, who is one of two coordinators for the Spark Park Summer Sport Camps, said it has been huge to get kids active again.

“There was that serious lack of sports going on throughout the year,” said Price. “Just getting them back into the groove of moving, running and playing catch – all the kind of your basic physical literacy is pretty important for these kids.”

Taylor McGregor, who is the other coordinator for the Spark Park Summer Sports Camps, said the kids have been excited and happy to do things they would usually do.

“I think it also provided a little bit of normal for the kids after the school year that they had just with the masks and everything,” said McGregor. “I think it was a lot on them, so this has kind of provided them an opportunity to have fun and feel a little bit of normal in their lives again.”

Gisele George, who is the Running Wild Athletics Track Camp coordinator, said the children and young athletes that have attended their camps have had a little extra jump in their step being back at the Track and Field Track.

“I think after a whole year of not being anywhere I think it was an awesome experience to get out and to be at the track again,” said George.

The Spark Park camps took place for the first time ever last year and have been even more popular this year. The participants are divided into groups for those aged five to eight and those aged nine to 12.

A young athlete throws a javelin at a Running Wild track camp.

The camp coaches introduce the youngsters to various sports and games throughout the week.

“We kind of start a little bit more structured,” said McGregor. “Our weeks will start with we have two football sessions, two baseball, two Frisbee, two soccer, track and field and Spark Park.

“They kind of have two sessions of that to start off the week, so they get an opportunity to try everything. As the week progresses, they will kind of choose what they like and the groups kind of go with that.”

Price said the most popular sports for the participants seems to change on a week to week basis. For some of the groups aged five to eight, he said it has been popular to play games like tag or just run through obstacle courses in the Spark Park room at the Indoor Training Centre.

“Some weeks, we have a group where most of them will bring their baseball gloves and their baseball bats,” said Price. “You know baseball is going to be a big thing that week.

“Some groups get really into Frisbee, because just the throwing and catching aspect of it is fun for them. Ultimate Frisbee is a pretty easy game to get going. They are definitely very engaged in that one.

“The kids seem to be enjoying pretty much all the sports that we throw their way. After they kind of get the fundamentals down, we have it set up so that coaches can have the kids decide what they want to do.”

The Running Wild Athletics Club Track Camps are used to both introduce young athletes to track and field and as a training opportunity for current members of the club.

Last year, Running Wild ran their summer camps on the dirt track at E.D. Feehan Catholic High School. This year, a little extra excitement was added due to the fact the Running Wild camps have been held at the new Track and Field Track facility that opened on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds in 2019.

Two youngsters run an obstacle course in the Spark Park room.

In July, the Running Wild camp hosted a sizable contingent that came from the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, which is located about 100 kilometres north of Prince Albert and an interest showed through.

“They really enjoyed the throwing events,” said George. “We did some javelin and shot put.

“The hands on of those I think was quite good. They really enjoyed those events.”

During a weekly session, coaches at the Running Wild camp spent time teaching and developing the youngsters the various events that make up track and field. 

Those sessions built up to a simulated competition at the end of the week.

“We rounded the week off doing our mini-Olympics, which kind of showcased what the kids kind of like the most or attached on to,” said George. “That was kind of cool.

“We saw some kids throwing javelin farther than we ever expected, so that was pretty awesome to see.”

Following those mini-Olympics, the week concluded with the youngsters getting a chance to go through a short obstacle course. The course was run with lots of laughs and glee.

“It is just something fun that had a little bit of everything,” said George. “It had a little bit of running and jumping and some agilities.

“That is just something that we throw in there, because not everybody is good at everything, but everybody is good at something.”

George said a few other fun variables were also added to the Running Wild camp to help make it memorable for the participants.

Two youngsters race at the Running Wild track camp.

“We had the tie-dyed T-shirts happening, so it wasn’t just all about track,” said George. “They were able to take those home.

“Overall, I think the kids had a great experience and all the coaches did. I know I did. Hopefully, we see them at the track again for sure.”

George has enjoyed seeing the youngster that take part in the Running Wild camps head home with big smiles on their faces.

McGregor has seen a similar site at the Spark Park Summer Sport Camps along with positive feedback from parents.

“I think that is honestly the biggest piece of feedback that we’ve gotten is that they’re tired and they are having fun and they will come back and next time they will bring their friends with them,” said McGregor. “I think that reassures us that we’re doing something right and providing them with kind of a unique opportunity to participate in a bunch of different things and have fun while doing that.”

Complex happenings in photos that feel so good

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The Selects soak in a provincial championship win.

Since the start of July, the Gordie Howe Sports Complex has lived out the cliché, “You don’t know what you are missing until it is gone and it comes back again.”

As Public Health Orders and restrictions were lifted regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, action at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex shifted back into a familiar busy gear during the summer.

With events taking place like Softball Canada identification camps, Saskatoon Valkyries football games, Softball Saskatchewan provincials and televised under-18 AAA baseball games for the first time since the summer of 2019, it felt like you cherished these happenings a little more.

Our photo round up includes a number of pictures of the plays and memories that were made.

Most of these photos like the lead picture of this post were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke. The lead photo shows the Saskatoon Selects Black Sox posing for the customary celebratory team photo after winning Softball Saskatchewan’s Under-19 Open men’s title on July 25 at Joe Gallagher Field.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 11 pictures since the start of July. We hope you enjoy.

Up, up and away

A youngster takes flight in the long jump during a Running Wild Athletics Club summer track camp at our Track and Field Track on July 16. The young athletes sure enjoyed the track complex, which opened in 2019.

Opening up the alley

Saskatoon Valkyries left tackle Betsy Mawdsley shoves a Regina Riot defensive end out of the way to open up a running lane for the team’s running backs in a WWCFL exhibition game on July 16. The Valkyries ultimately piled up 296 yards rushing as a team in a winning effort on this night at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Looking to impress

An infielder prospect aims to impress the brass at Softball Canada turning a double play in this drill. The player was taking part in a one-day combine identification camp for the under-23 men’s national team on July 10.

Running to daylight

A running back for a Saskatoon Minor Football all-star team charges to an open lane on the outside against a Regina Minor Football all-star team in the varsity match of the Prairie Bowl Series on July 17 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. All-star teams from both minor sports bodies competed against each other in under-16 and varsity matches.

Lined up for sweet ice cream treat

On a hot Saturday night on July 17, ice cream was an in demand commodity at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex and “The Mean Green Ice Cream Machine” was there to answer the call. Our Operations Manager Johnny Marciniuk checked in with this sweet picture.

In the park round tripper

Saskatoon Hustlers hitter Caili Rheaume is all smiles after beating the throw to home to complete an in the park home run in a contest held during the Softball Saskatchewan provincials on July 24.

Bringing the heat on TV

Saskatoon Cubs pitcher Parker Frey brings the heat against the Saskatoon Diamondbacks in a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League game on July 28. The TV cameras were out the Cubs victory at Cairns Field was broadcast on SaskTel’s community channel.

Piling up yards after the catch

Saskatoon Valkyries receiver Haley Girolami darts upfield after making a catch against the Regina Riot in a WWCFL exhibition game on July 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Girolami caught eight passes for 100 yards and scored a touchdown in a Valkyries victory.

Golden family time

It was family picture time for a gold medal winning Saskatoon Hustlers player on July 25 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Hustlers had just downed the Saskatoon Raiders in the under-16 girls’ championship game at the Softball Saskatchewan provincials.

A swinging good time

A youngster goes swinging on rings, ropes and bars that hang from the ceiling of the Spark Park room at the Indoor Training Centre on July 30. The youngster was taking part in the Spark Park Summer Sport Camps.

That one is out of here

Saskatoon Co-op G-Force hitter Brielle McCullough goes yard with this home run shot in a Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association league game on August 4 at Glenn Reeve Field #3.

Grand Slam Softball Championship is coming

The Gordie Howe Sports Complex is hosting the Grand Slam Softball Championship September 2 to 5. Feel free to mark it on you calendar and stop in and check it out.

Running Wild opens doors for indigenous athletes, coaches

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Two runners lap the track at a Running Wild practice.

Kendra Farmer is still discovering how much of a positive impact the combination of her indigenous and athletics background can have on indigenous youngsters.

The 21-year-old has been a star for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Track and Field Team since taking overall female rookie of the year honours for Huskie Athletics back in 2017-18. The graduate of Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate is a member of the Central Urban Metis Federation Incorporated and has been a coach with the Running Wild Athletics Club pretty much since it started in 2018.

The Running Wild Athletics Club is an indigenous focused track and field club that operates provincially.

Farmer, who specializes in sprints with the Huskies, isn’t one of those that draws attention to her lengthy list of accomplishments in track and field. When she is coaching Running Wild, Farmer is zoned in on helping athletes improve and making sure that they are feeling upbeat.

During a Running Wild practice this past May, Farmer was casually talking to her athletes during a rest period about her nutrition program and some of the extra things she does in her own track and field training. One of the young athletes figured out Farmer was a member of the Huskies.

The young athlete said being a member of the Huskies was a big thing and that Farmer had to focus on her nutrition and the extra things she does in training.

Farmer asked the young athlete if joining the Huskies was something the youngster wanted to do in the future. The youngster responded with a yes.

Farmer was happy to hear that upbeat response and proceeded to offer encouragement to the rest of the athletes who were at practice that night at the Track and Field Track at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

“Huskies are something that you guys should be looking to, because it is not impossible,” said Farmer, who stands 5-foot-5. “It is me and Brett (Lachance) and all of the other awesome indigenous athletes on the team.

“We’re all thriving on the team, and there is quite a few of us.”

Farmer is one of the 25 current or former Huskies who are mentor coaches with Running Wild and also athletes on the club’s performance side in Saskatoon. Running Wild has 40 athletes in Saskatoon that are part of the club’s developmental program.

Kendra Farmer is one of the mentor coaches for Running Wild.

From that talk she had with that young athlete at a Running Wild practice, Farmer realized a little more how much of an impact it is for the young athletes with the club to see people being both indigenous and a high-level athlete.

“I think they do look up to us,” said Farmer, who is an engineering student at the U of S. “It humbles me, and I appreciate being able to be a role model for some of the athletes.

“It is kind of never something I would have expected to be able to be. It is exciting to be able to coach and then see them kind of look into their futures and become part of their goals.”

That type of connection is one of the intangibles long time track and field administrator Derek Rope wanted to see. Rope, who is a member of the Board of Directors for Friends of the Bowl, has always sought out ways to get more indigenous athletes to take part in track and field.

An alum of the Huskies Men’s Track and Field Team, Rope remembers a time where only about four per cent of participants at a mainstream track and field meet in the province identified as indigenous. Rope wanted to grow that four per cent number.

He helped found the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Track and Field Meet 13 years ago.

The Running Wild Athletics Club provides another avenue to get indigenous youth into track and field.

Rope, who is a member of the Pasqua First Nation, said it is important to have those avenues for indigenous youth to get into sport. The 46-year-old said one of those reminders personally came from seeing the 2018 child advocate’s report on youth incarceration rates in Saskatchewan, which said 92 per cent of male incarcerated youth and 98 per cent of female incarcerated youth were indigenous.

“We use sport not only as a way to encourage healthy lifestyles, competition and school, but obviously, as an access to participation or alternatives,” said Rope. “For us, yes, it was important, and yes, there are other clubs.

“We definitely know that when we are doing something that we are doing it also for how we build and support not only indigenous athletes but how we make those connections and bridge communities.”

Rope said Saskatchewan Athletics, which governs track and field in the province, has been a great supporter in helping indigenous sport track and field bodies.

A long jumper takes to the air at a Running Wild practice.

He added it is important for young indigenous athletes to see veteran athletes like Farmer and Lachance, who is a top performer in throwing events from the Big River First Nation, doing well at elite levels.

“It makes it real,” said Rope. “It makes it relevant.

“It makes it attainable. They connect as people for sure and definitely show that there is life in sport after your done high school. You can become a student athlete and continue doing what you love.

“I think it is huge when kids are able to see their fellow indigenous people doing well competing and achieving.”

On top of creating avenues for indigenous athletes, the Running Wild Athletics Club created avenues for indigenous athletes to become coaches.

After finishing her rookie season with the Huskies in the spring of 2018, Farmer hadn’t thought about becoming a coach in the sport. Lachance learned about Farmer’s Metis background and introduced her to helping out with Saskatchewan Aboriginal Track and Field activities.

She proceeded to meet Rope, who suggested Farmer should try coaching and that the Running Wild Athletics Club was looking for coaches. That marked Farmer’s introduction to coaching in the sport.

“It was very exciting honestly the first time getting to coach,” said Farmer. “It was definitely a learning curve off the bat.

“I started off coaching with long jump, because that was one of my main events at the time. I felt pretty confident there. Then, I sort of expanded into some of the other events.”

When Farmer began to coach sprinters, she learned it is important to try not to overload young athletes with information.

“Sprinting is a weird event to coach,” said Farmer. “You think from the outside perspective you are just running.

“When you get down to the nitty-gritty of it, it is actually like a lot of little details, especially coaching younger kids. You don’t want to be giving too much detail, because it could get confusing. You want to make sure they are still running with proper form and everything.

A trio of runners jet to the finish at a Running Wild practice.

“It is different, but it has been getting better I would say. Now, I’m pretty confident in my coaching abilities.”

Farmer has enjoyed seeing the athletes she coaches improve. While she still plans to be a high level track and field athlete for a while yet, Farmer wants to continue being a coach in the sport especially with Running Wild.

“I’m definitely hoping to keep coaching for as long as possible,” said Farmer. “I have one year of school left to go, and then we’ll see where I go from there.

“I might stick around for a couple of more years just to finish out my (U Sports) eligibility. As long as I can, I for sure will be coaching for Running Wild definitely outside. Even if I move provinces or move elsewhere, I’m going to try and keep in touch with this club as much as possible just because I love what they are doing.”

Rope makes big impact on provincial track and field scene

Brings indigenous athlete needs to Friends of the Bowl Board

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Derek Rope is a regular at the Track and Field Track.

Sometimes all it takes is the little things to make Derek Rope smile.

The 46-year-old member of the Pasqua First Nation and Saskatoon resident is one of the newest additions to the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Bowl having taken his board position last year. Rope is a business owner and has extensive experience being a coach and administrator in track and field with a focus on indigenous athletes.

He is the Chairperson for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Track and Field, a coach and administrator for the Running Wild Athletics Club, the Coordinator for track and field for the North American Indigenous Games and runs numerous clinics for sports too.

While he wears a lot of different hats, one of Rope’s biggest smiles came from seeing pictures of all the speed skating tiles cleared off the Track and Field Track at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex for the first time since October of 2019.

The new Track and Field Track facility was used for one season in 2019, but it wasn’t utilized in 2020 as user groups adjusted to the changing aspects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

In 2020, a lot of the speed skating tiles were left in place to allow for the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval to be flooded and created a touch faster this past winter.

The Track and Field Track has started to be used for initial practices, and Rope said it was a great site to see the facility opened up again.

“We are so excited to get back on the track for sure,” said Rope. “Like everybody, we had to be kind of creative in how we supported our athletes and working out.”

For the Running Wild Athletics Club that operates provincially, Rope said that program has 25 performance athletes with the majority being current or former members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams and 40 developmental athletes inside of Saskatoon who use the Track and Field Track.

Rope said the club members enjoyed using the facility in 2019 and were excited to get back there in 2020. Due to the factors when it came to dealing with the pandemic, the 2020 season didn’t happen, but Rope said getting back to the Track and Field Track this year is that much more special.

“We had one summer utilizing it, and you look forward to it,” said Rope. “It is such an amazing facility.

“To only have one summer, you look forward to going back, and then it wasn’t ideal. It was pretty disappointing. Now, we’re all booked in and ready to go.”

Derek Rope helps position Running Wild coaches for a photo.

With having been a longtime track and field administrator which included helping found the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Track and Field Meet 13 years ago, things naturally progressed to where Rope joined the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Bowl. With the creation of the Track and Field Track facility, track and field groups have had more of a presence than ever before at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

Rope been impressed with the passion of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Bowl and how motivated they are to finish all the construction projects on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds and promote the facility. Rope said he has spent a lot of time learning about the Complex and believes one of the biggest initial things that needs to be done is to get the word out about all the different sports facilities at the Complex.

“Being the second biggest (multi-sport complex) in Canada, that is huge thing, and it brings a lot of pride to be instilled in our city that we have world class facilities,” said Rope. “I think a lot of people haven’t actually experienced it and seen all the amenities.”

Rope has enjoyed working with the other members of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Bowl. He said the board members have all been involved in their respective sport scenes for a long time and sport provides the common ground that makes everyone come together.

“It has been really good,” said Rope. “They’ve been really responsive.

“I think they recognize that the inclusion and recognition of indigenous people not only just as clients and patrons of facilities but as partners and those kinds of things is definitely looking at how they change their perspectives as well too. They’ve been open to those suggestions. It has been really good.”

Rope said his role has been to bring forward the needs of indigenous athletes to the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Bowl. He said the board members have been receptive to what he has said.

Rope wanted to stress that he is on the board due to his extensive experience as a coach and administrator in track and field.

“They (the board members) recognized the other talents as well too,” said Rope, who was a SaskSport Volunteer of the Year award winner in 2018. “The fact that I am indigenous I guess is just a bonus in that regard too.”

Derek Rope and some Running Wild coaches share a laugh.

Before becoming a coach and administrator, Rope was an elite level middle distance runner in track and field, which included being a member of the Huskies men’s track and field team, and he also played hockey and volleyball growing up.

With the Huskies, Rope ran the 400-metre and 800-metre races at outdoor events and the 600-metre race at indoor events. He was the rookie of the year for the Huskies men’s track and field team in 1993 and remained with the Huskies in 1994 and a partial season in 1996, when injury cut short his career.

Rope has fond memories of working with Huskies assistant coach John Fitzgerald, who was named to the Athletic Canada Hall of Fame in 2018 due to his coaching career.

One memory that stuck out for Rope came from a time when Fitzgerald had the middle distance runners out at his place in Rosthern, Sask., for a practice session where they didn’t run. The Athletes were all sitting in the living room of Fitzgerald’s home, and the coach began talking to the athletes about how things were going with their friends, families, school and their personal lives.

The visit had gone for about an hour until veteran Huskies team member Jason Warick asked when the athletes were going to workout.

“He (Fitzgerald) said, ‘That was your workout,’” said Rope. “He (Fitzgerald) said, ‘Look at you guys.’

“This was my rookie year. He (Fitzgerald) said, ‘If you got injured tomorrow, you would be lost. You wouldn’t know what to do with yourselves. Too much track impacts and affects all other parts of your life, and too much of your other life will impact track.

“‘You have to try focus on that balance.’”

From that point, Rope remembered that life balance was important.

Rope also believes that mentorship is important too, especially for indigenous athletes. With the Running Wild Athletics Club, Rope is happy to see standout Huskies athletes Kendra Farmer and Brett Lachance have been working with the developmental athletes as mentor coaches. Farmer is a member of the Central Urban Metis Federation Inc., and Lachance is from the Big River First Nation.

Rope said it is important for young indigenous athletes to athletes like Farmer and Lachance doing well at elite levels.

“It is huge,” said Rope. “It makes it real.

The mentor coaches with the Running Wild Athletics Club.

“It makes it relevant. It makes it attainable. They connect as people for sure and definitely show that there is life in sport after your done high school.

“You can become a student athlete and continue doing what you love. I think it is huge when kids are able to see their fellow indigenous people doing well competing and achieving.”

While he might be modest to admit it, Rope has and continues to provide a role model example for indigenous and all athletes on how to give back to sport on the coaching and administrative side too. Rope’s example shows athletes how you can have a full circle experience in the world of sports.