Karlie Moore (835) of LaSalle Sandwich, edges Dorchester's Emma McKnight, right, and Hanna Petty (1084) of Guelph St. James, to win the midget girls' 200 metres, at the OFSAA West regional meet. McKnight placed second. (photos / Rob J. Ross)
Saturday, May 28, 2016
By Rob J. Ross
CAMBRIDGE, Ont. - It has been quite a first season for Emma McKnight.
The Grade nine sprinter will conclude her debut, at the OFSAA track and field championships, competing in three events.
McKnight finished second in both the midget women's 100 and 200 metre races, along with helping the senior women place second, in the 4x100-metre relay, here at the OFSAA west regional meet.
"I didn't expect to get this far. (After WOSSAA) I wanted to make it to OFSAA, come top four here (at regionals). To come second is even better," McKnight said. "In the 100, I ran my PB by a lot and broke the school record. That was my best race."
Not only did McKnight set the new LDSS time for midget girls at 12.77 seconds, the relay team lowered the school record time to 48.87 seconds.
"I had a good start but my handoff with the baton wasn't that great," she said.
McKnight blazed to second place in the 200m, in 26.67 seconds.
At the beginning of this season, McKnight quickly noticed the difference between elementary and secondary school track and field.
"It's such a big change from elementary school. Everything is more intense and you have more meets. But I'm enjoying it."
McKnight, with her trio of third place ribbons,
from the OFSAA West regional meet.McKnight credits coaches, James Tennant at LDSS and John Crossley, from the London-Western club, for improving her running form.
"I have natural speed, but I didn't have form and my form has improved because of them."
McKnight won the 100 at three invitational meets, before winning the race at the Thames Valley Region Tri-County meet. She was third at WOSSAA, but second in the 200 metre final. McKnight also long jumps and placed eighth at WOSSAA.
How did McKnight react to coach Tennant placing her on the senior relay team.
"I was surprised. I was like, ok." She adds relay team-mates Megan Dunn and Beaudry sisters, Megan and Katie, "have been really nice and have helped me."
Now McKnight prepares for her first OFSAA, June 2-4, in Windsor.
"I don't expect to be top three. I want to run really well and run the best I have all year."
McKnight's sprint training should help in preparing for her first season, with the London Devilettes, in the Provincial Women’s Junior Hockey League.
Emma's father, Quinn, played for the Dorchester Dolphins, the former senior men's hockey organization.
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