Seasons may have changed, but that hasn’t slowed down members of the Nanaimo Track and Field Club. Following a busy summer schedule of track and field competitions, club members have now switched gears into cross country mode.

President of the NTFC this year is Al Johnston, with Sue Deschiffart the club secretary. Long-time volunteer Brian Foan is the club treasurer and statistician, while Valerie Capewell looks after public relations and Gary Lamoureux handles fundraising. Other important positions are held by Roseanne Prokopetz, who serves as meet administrator and Sandi Bassett who is the club’s parent liaison. Ana Maria Serban is in charge of registrations and sends a reminder that current club memberships will expire on December 31. To purchase or renew a membership, contact her at 250-758-5030.

Among highlights from last summer, six club athletes were part of the Vancouver Island Zone 6 team at the B.C. Summer Games in Kelowna. On the team were Mei-San Lamoureux, Quinlyn King, Mike Bennett, Leigh Richardson, Brandon Bonnetplume and Joel Deschiffart.

There were a number of local winners when Nanaimo hosted the B.C. Juvenile Track and Field Championships at Rotary Bowl. As well, Leigh Richardson and Jason Clare represented Nanaimo at the B.C. Pentathlon Championships in Vancouver and discus thrower Jade Richardson earned a spot on the B.C. team at the Canadian Legion Championships in Quebec. We’ll pass along more on those athletes after NTFC awards are given out in at a banquet in November.

Right now, though, the focus has switched to cross country and club members are competing in the 2008 Island Cross Country Series. The series is a set of seven competitions held at various locations on the Island between now and April.

The opening event was hosted recently at Sproat Lake near Port Alberni. Coach Nick Bassett reports that Nanaimo Track and Field Club members who attended ran well in good weather conditions. First-place winners in their respective age divisions were Hannah Bassett (15), Joel Deschiffart (14), Miryam Bassett (12), Jacob Bassett (9) and Madison Heisterman (8).

Katelyn Ramage (15), Marita Deschiffart (12) and Colton LaJeunesse (10) all placed second in their races. Third-place finishes went to Erica Deschiffart (12) and Wyatt Hutt (10). In the masters’ category, Nick Bassett was first in the men’s division and Sandi Bassett first in the women’s group.

Next event in the Island Series will be the Peninsula Challenge, scheduled for Oct. 19 at Centennial Park in Saanich. Then will come the B.C. Cross Country Championships at Vancouver’s Stanley Park on Oct. 25. Next month will feature the annual Bazett Farm race on Nov. 23 at Maple Bay.

The series will then take a break until March 1, when Oceanside will host a competition at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Beaver Lake in Victoria will be the site for a cross country race on March 29. Then the series will conclude right here in Nanaimo when the local club will host the popular Bill English race at Rotary Bowl April 5.

The Nanaimo Track and Field Club coaching team for cross country is led by Brian Foan, Nick Bassett and Linda Campbell. Cross country training sessions happen on Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Rotary Bowl track. These are designed to increase speed, endurance, strength and agility and are for athletes born in 2000 or before. On Sunday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to noon trail runs are held at various locations and all ages can take part.

In addition, sprint training to increase speed and power is led by sprinting coach Mike Viers. These sessions are for athletes born in 1996 and before and are held on Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the track.

For more information about any Nanaimo Track and Field Club programs, contact the club by phoning 250-754-9266.

Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.

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Ian Thorpe writes about sports Saturdays.