Chemainus Secondary School’s Kaz Bannister came away from the B.C. High School Track & Field Championships over the weekend in Langley with a pair of top 8 performances.
“It was the first time competing at such a high level,” said the Grade 8 student from Thetis Island. ”It was really nerve wracking but it was fun - I had a good time.”
Bannister has been running cross country since she was young and got more interested in track and field in recent years.
“I just kind of like going fast - it’s really fun,” she told the Chronicle.
The 13-year-old now trains with the Nanaimo Track & Field Club twice a week.
Bannister was selected to run at provincials after winning both the 100 metre and 200 metre dash at both the Mid-Island and Island championships.
At provincials, Bannister placed seventh in the 100 metres a time of 13.39.
She was most happy with her sixth place finish in the 200 metre race where she crossed the line in 27.66.
“I was in Lane 1 and I was really proud of myself because that’s a difficult lane to run in because of the curvature and being on the inside,” she said.
Asked about what’s on her mind prior to settling into the starting block, the mature teenager said she’s always thinking about the big picture.
“I like to say to myself that there is no losing, there is only winning or learning so I’m going to come back successful no matter what,” she said.
Bannister plans to compete with her Nanaimo club this summer and is considering the BC Games.
“It’s fun to do well and improve and I can see the improvements,” she said.