Kelvin High School is officially a track-and-field dynasty.

When the Manitoba provincial track and field championships came to a close Saturday evening, it was the Kelvin Clippers who stood atop the mountain as the province’s most athletic school. Kelvin was awarded the aggregate team banner, which is awarded to the school with the most overall points in all events. It’s the third year in a row the Clippers have stood on top of the podium with the banner.

Grade 12 Kelvin athlete Max Speiser was a big help in his school claiming the top prize, as he finished the three-day event with three medals — gold in the 4×400 metre relay, bronze in the pentathlon and another bronze in high jump. The 17-year-old said him and his teammates came into the week expecting to repeat as champions.

“At our school, it’s a standard that it’s our goal every year to win the banner,” said Speiser, who hopes to continue his track career next fall at the University of Manitoba.

“Especially being in Grade 12, we wanted to end on a high note and it just feels really good for all of us.”

Being one of the larger high schools in the province with more than 1,300 students definitely helps, but Speiser believes it’s the training outside of school that takes Kelvin’s track program to the next level.

“We have quite a few athletes, but the biggest difference between us and other schools is that we have a lot of people who train all throughout the year,” Speiser said.

“We don’t just have a couple high level athletes, we got multiple high level athletes and good athletes in all four divisions. We have depth and that’s what wins these this banners.”

Junior varsity student Rofi Agboola, 15, who dominated provincials by winning gold in the girls triple jump and 4×100 m relay, agreed with Speiser. She said the work ethic of the students and the coaching of Tim Shynkaruk, who has been leading the program for the past 13 years, is what has set the program apart from the pack.

“A lot of kids at Kelvin are really dedicated to track and a lot of us do track outside of school,” Agboola said.

“Most of us train with Optimist Athletics or Stride Ahead Tough Track, so we’re used to always practicing. Not a lot of people want to get wake up early in the morning to practice, but it’s what you got to do to get better.”

Finishing in second place behind the Clippers was Garden City Collegiate with 181 points. Glenlawn Collegiate rounded out the podium in third place with 152 points.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @TaylorAllen31

Records are made to be broken, but usually they’re broken by athletes with more experience and training than Robbie Gerstner.

Gerstner, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student at St. Paul’s High School, shattered the provincial junior varsity boys triple jump record with a jump of 13.61 metres. Gerstner’s jump on Saturday at the Manitoba provincial track and field championships took down a 47-year-old record, as the previous top mark of 13.36 m was set by Kasmir Mankiewicz from St. John’s High School all the way back in 1971. What makes it more impressive is the fact Gerstner started competing in the triple jump last year and only has five track meets under his belt.

“I’m relatively new to (the triple jump) and don’t have much training,” said Gerstner, who stands 6-3 and also plays volleyball and basketball at St. Paul’s. “I thought maybe (breaking the record) was achievable, but I didn’t actually think I’d get it.”

Gerstner had a personal best of 13.02 m in the semifinals on Friday and that’s when his coach and physical education teacher, Jeff McMillan, let him know that the record could be in reach for him in the final.

“I was absolutely ecstatic,” Gerstner said, on the moment he heard he won gold and broke the near half-century-old record in Saturday’s final. “I jumped up and down. It was amazing. I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life.”

McMillan, who has been coaching at St. Paul’s for 15 years, said he has never seen a track athlete excel as quickly as Gerstner has.

“This is a really special kid here,” McMillan said. “He plays volleyball and basketball, so he’s used to jumping. He’s got good springs, he’s tall, has some strength and uses those long legs to his advantage.

McMillan discovered Gerstner a year ago at a Grade 9 field day at the school. McMillan said they’re always looking for “diamonds in the rough” and after seeing Gerstner in the long jump, he knew he had potential in the triple jump.

“(Triple jump) is kind of made for him in some ways,” McMillan said. “It’s just tailored to his body type and jumping ability.”

Gerstner doesn’t do any training for track and field outside of the school’s outdoor season. He came into the week just hoping to win a medal, but after his record breaking performance, Gerstner thinks the sport will become a bigger priority now.

“I’ll probably start taking it more seriously now,” Gerstner said.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @TaylorAllen31