Bringing home the medals

Shot put is one of Ron Walker’s best categories, as he won a gold medal at the Alberta Championships in Calgary for throwing at 16 lb. shot put 11.18 (36.7 feet).

Ron Walker
For the South Peace News

It has been a whirlwind couple of months for Ron Walker in track and field. Walker competed in the 35-40 age group at the Canadian Master’s Athletic Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan Aug. 1-3. He finished with a very handsome haul of three national medals, two of which include two gold medals. Walker went on to win national titles in the discus and the shot put. His winning throw for the 2 kg discus was 30.86 metres. “That was not my best throw of the year, but not bad considering that I wasn’t doing a spin, just throwing from a standstill position,” says Walker. His personal best was 32.86 metres at the Alberta Championships in Calgary earlier in the year. Walker then struck silver in the men’s javelin and he admits this is not his best event, but he entered for the experience. Finally, his second gold was in the shot put, where he threw the 16 lb. shot 11.18 metres, or 36.7 feet, which was the best throw of the meet in that weight class. “The throw was my second best all-time. However, I am looking for better results in the winter competitions because I will have more weight and throw training,” says Walker. “The men’s shot put is only four pounds lighter than a sack of potatoes," he quips. Walker has had a very good summer in track and field, winning nine medals including five gold in competition. He won two gold and one silver at the Sherwood Park Track Classic, two silver and one gold at the Alberta Provincials in Calgary, finally winding up with the one silver and two gold at the national championships. Walker will be training for multi events in 2009. He competed in multi events as a young man, ending up with a bronze medal at the North American Indigenous Games in 1995. He also says if he would have entered the Indigenous Games in Duncan, British Columbia this year, his distances would have won gold there too. Walker’s summer is over, but next year he plans to go to the provincials, then defend his national titles in Kamloops, B.C. and finally end up at the World Masters Games in Australia, depending on whether he can raise enough funds. If not, he will go to the U.S.A. Championships. “There are a lot more competitors there in my age category, so I am looking forward to it,” says Walker. He was born and educated in High Prairie.

Copyright © 1999-2005 South Peace News. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster