Talent on the track; Adrienne Payne of SCITS quickly making a name for herself

Saturday, July 14, 2007

And they're off.

Adrienne Payne, a Grade 11 student at Sarnia Collegiate (SCITS), is among the many talented track and field stars from our area.

She's had numerous memorable moments over the past three years as a Blue Bomber and member of the Sarnia Athletics track and field team: Qualified for OFSAA in the spring of 2006 in the 300 metre hurdles. Qualified for the Junior Nationals in 2006 in the 100 metre and 400 metre hurdles.

Lambton Secondary Schools Athletic Association hurdles champion in 2005, 2006, 2007.

Southwestern Ontario champion in 2006, 2007 in hurdles and LSSAA record-setter in 2007.

Qualified for the Canadian Junior Nationals in 2007 for the 100 metre hurdles and heptathlon.

Adrienne is a multi-sport athlete but quickly discovered a talent for track and field. Although the hurdles are her primary event, she's since been chosen to compete in heptathlons, the seven activity event. (Heptathlon is only available on the 'club' circuit. It's not a high school event.)

"Track and field is one of the most rewarding sports you can do. It's that one moment where everything you have been working up to pays off. When all your hard work and training comes together. It's such a rewarding feeling to know that you did that and you're capable of even more," she explained.

During her elementary school days at Sir John Moore Community School in Corunna, she played every sport offered: soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross-country and track and field. In the community she was a travel fastball player for seven years and she also spent four years with the Huron Lakers club basketball system.

Once she reached high school, she joined the volleyball, cross-country, basketball and track and field teams at Sarnia Collegiate. She quickly decided to focus on her track and field career, dropping the off-season basketball from her already impressive resume. Other involvement includes the SCITS Revue, Fashion Show and Booster Club.

Adrienne comes from an athletic family. Her father, Dennis, played travel baseball during his teenage years in Corunna. Sister Erica was also a travel fastball player and also dabbled in high school volleyball. Brother Jacob was a travel hockey player and a volleyball player.

Perhaps the best known members of her family are her cousin and uncle. Cousin Andy Ysebaert earned a track scholarship to Texas State in the throwing events after winning a gold medal at OFSAA. Uncle Paul Ysebaert is a 13-year veteran of the National Hockey League (once playing on the same line as Steve Yzerman) and is presently one of the top amateur golfers in Sarnia.

The highlight this past season was setting the LSSAA record, an amazing accomplishment for a first-year senior. Unfortunately, two weeks later at OFSAA Regionals in Windsor resulted in a sixth-place finish. She won't make excuses. She's put it behind her.

"The other girls were just faster," she said.

The nice thing about being involved in club track is there's always another day. In addition to competing at the Canadian Juniors this summer, she hopes to make a national team in the near future. Personal bests are what she strives for. The ultimate goal would be a U.S. scholarship.

"I have a very strong field of women to compete against. I believe the West Region has the toughest competition in the province," she said.

She praises her coach Joel Skinner, who works with her both at SCITS and with the club team.

"Mr. Skinner introduced me to track in Grade 9 and convinced me to join Sarnia Athletics Southwest. He spends many hours training me for my events. He is someone I look up to and admire. His dedication to the sport motives me to do my best."

Another one of her mentors is SCITS teacher Amy Brand (nee McLellan), who coached her in senior basketball. Ms. Brand also helps with the track and field team.

Adrienne is basically self-motivated.

"Before a meet or a race, I go in there knowing what I have to do. I try and visualize my race or event. I try not to over-think anything and stay as calm as possible. Usually, listening to my music gets me motivated. Also, knowing that I have people there to support me, no matter what the outcome is, really helps me."

She enjoys a wide assortment of music. One of her likes is John Hughes movies from the 1980's.

She also has a regular routine which she is extremely superstitious about.

"I have to get everything ready the night before. I have to warm-up 45 minutes before my race. I do a lap of the track, then an active warm-up stretch, do some hurdle drills, do about three excels then go over a few hurdles. I'm very superstitious. I feel rushed and panicked if I don't get a good warm-up before the race."

Coach Skinner has highlighted the progress of other Sarnia Athletics Southwest Track and Field Club members whom he and others have had a part in their promising athletic endeavours. It has become known as the:

SKINNER REPORT

Jillian Drouin 3rd at the NCAA championships/looking to compete at the World university games this summer/competing at the national senior championships this summer in the high jump/looking to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the heptathlon

Derek Drouin--Second at OFSAA--2.05m/qualifed for the world youth championships/looking to make the national legions. On Thursday had a perosnal best for outdoors at 2.07 metres at the World Youth Track and Field Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Casey Garbaty OFSAA gold in the javelin 63.64m/qualified for the pan am junior team.

Maggie Mullen--looking for a number of medals at the national junior meet/qualified to compete at the national senior meet.

Andy Ysebaert--Personal best of 16.45m in the shot put--freshman at Texas state/competing at the national senior championships.

Cole Bloxam--competing at the national senior championships.

Haley Cadwallader personal best of 5:04.29 in the 1500m steeplechase/looking to qualify for the national legion meet/looking to medal at the national junior championships.

Tiffany Holmes 6th at OFSAA in the shot put/personal best of 11.00m/looking to place well at the national junior championships.

Justin Keating looking to qualify for the national junior championships.

Sarah Taylor looking to qualify for the national junior championships.

Dana Hislop looking to qualify for the national junior championships/looking to qualify for the national legion meet.

Jackson Gray looking to medal at the national junior championships/looking to win gold at the national legion meet.

Emily King has qualified for the national junior championships and looks to place high.

Marie-Louise Asselin won two medals at the recent Pam-Am junior track and field championships in Brazil. Was first in the women's 5,000 metres and second in the women's 3,000 metres.