A Drumheller track and field athlete is heading to the Alberta Summer Games.
The Alberta Summer Games is in Airdrie from July 24-27. Payton Zacharuk, 14, has qualified to compete in track and field events, and in her case, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
She comes from a long line of athletes. In fact, her sister Sydney competed in the Alberta Summer Games as a teen in track and field, as did her mother Elizabeth, who competed in tennis. Sydney won silver at discus, and placed fourth in shot put and seventh in javelin. Elizabeth won tennis in the East Central Alberta Games and then placed sixth at the summer games.
“I am excited she is going to have this experience,” said Elizabeth.
Payton is relatively new to the sport, but has been making great strides. She is excelling in throwing events. Currently she is training with the Airdrie Aces Track team and most recently came back from a meet in Kelowna where she threw some personal bests. She placed in three out her four events.
“She is blowing away records, right, left and centre,” said her mother, Elizabeth. “She has tripled her distances in a month.”
For the games, Payton will be competing in high jump, discus, and shot put. To prepare she is training four times a week in Airdrie. This weekend she is in Edmonton to compete in provincials.
This summer the City of Airdrie expects to host 3,200 athletes, coaches, officials, parents and volunteers.
