Lily Ryan is competing this weekend at the outdoor national track and field championships for her age group in Calgary.
The 14-year-old from Bewdley will take on some of the best under-16 athletes in the country in the 200 and 800 metre races.
Ryan spoke to Today’s Northumberland prior to heading west, standing beside the track at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Cobourg which has special meaning to her.
“This is where I first came out for track and field, where I tried it out at St. Mary’s and I’m loving the sport and I very much enjoy it,” she said.
Ryan said it wasn’t until Grade 7 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Elementary School in Port Hope that she was encouraged by teachers to give track a try.
“For school I was told I was pretty quick by a lot of people,” she said. “I didn’t think much of it and think I would be so successful in running outside of school.”
Her mom, Elizabeth Ryan, contacted coach Cathy Barry from the Eclipse Track & Field Club in the Durham Region and she began training there.
Prior to winning all of her events and setting new school records at this year’s elementary school championships as a Grade 8 athlete, Ryan also had an exceptional showing at the Canadian indoor track championships for the U16 girls division this past spring in Toronto.
Ryan placed fourth in the 300 metres, fifth in the 800 metres, eighth in 200 metres, ninth in the 100 metres and 10th in the 60 metres. She also helped anchor her 4×200 metre relay team to the gold medal.
At the minor track association championships, Ryan became the 400-metre champion and also claimed first in the 200 metre and helped her team secure gold in the sprint melody relay and another strong 800-metre leg.
She was also selected to represent Team Ontario in their meet against Quebec, competing in both the 300 metre and the relay event.
In her first outdoor meet of the season, placed first in the 400 and 800 metres and fourth in the 200 metres.
Ryan said she currently trains with Eclipse just once a week as she also plays high-level rep soccer for Darlington. She has also been a goaltender for the West Northumberland Wild girls rep hockey teams.
She also hopes to play a number of sports at St. Mary when she starts high school next month.
“I know that I’m definitely going to be doing hockey again,” she said, adding she plans to join the cross-country running and track teams as well of course. Perhaps some others.
“Every sport, it’s got a place in my heart,” she said.
Ryan has big goals. In the short-term, she just wants to improve her personal-best time in the 800-metre run. Longer term she wants to be an Olympic athlete, as early as 2028 in Los Angeles.
Her mother is not surprised, with Elizabeth Ryan telling Today’s Northumberland what makes her daughter exceptional is that she’s a leader, supportive teammate and a relentless competitor who is fierce and humble, respectful and driven.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
