Travis Harfield: Victoria’s up-and-coming javelin star athlete
VICTORIA, British Columbia — The Jack Wallace Memorial Track at Oak Bay High School has seen many talented athletes hone their sporting skills over the past two decades and continues to be the training ground for many a future sports star. One such young athlete who is making waves is sixteen-year-old Travis Harfield who trains at the Oak Bay track near his home.
Travis competes in the javelin throw for Athletics Victoria and at the recent Victoria Track Classic on July 16th, Travis broke the U18 Canadian record when he threw the javelin 76.82 meters. Although not the first record Travis has smashed, it is a great achievement as it had been a particularly longstanding record. “My personal goal is to do the best I can under the circumstances,” Travis tells us. “It would be awesome to be number one in the world for my age class in javelin. After all, records are made to be broken.”
What Travis loves most about his sport is the exhilaration of throwing the javelin. This feeling combined with the satisfaction of executing a good throw has the same effect in the other sport Travis is heavily involved in – baseball where he plays for the Eagles Junior Premier Baseball. “It makes me smile to see I have thrown well or made a good play!” he reveals.
Travis believes that the biggest challenge for javelin is the limited venues to train. He cites the example of BCSS Provincials athletes practicing for throws on a school field with no run-up or competing with other scheduled sports like football or rugby to use the one existing run-up where the practice is allowed. He also feels that throwing has a reputation as a lesser sport among track and field events, thereby impacting the athletes, especially new athletes who might want to try the sport.
On the other hand, Travis is grateful for the great coaches he has at Athletics Victoria who are volunteers but spend hours every week developing athletes on top of their own training and organizing events. His throws coach, Sheldon Gmitroski, keeps things light, steering him in the direction that he feels is best for him. “It helps me mentally to feel that my coaches are not giving me a ton of pressure to achieve a certain goal,” he explains. “Of course, as a competitor, I want to do well. Sometimes it doesn’t go the way you hoped, but you put in the work and hope for better luck next time. Win or lose, it is soon yesterday’s news.”
He also credits his mother, Beverley, who helps organize his busy schedule that revolves around schoolwork, a part-time job, baseball training and athletics practices. She is the dedicated driver, taking him to practices and any unscheduled opportunities that arise where Travis can practice throwing. Lastly, Travis has this to add, “I am grateful for the talents and gifts I have. With God’s grace, I will compete in the Youth Nationals this year in Sherbrooke, Quebec.”
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