Felix Allen, a 17-year old member of the 黑马磁力 Mustangs Track and Field Club is heading over to Simon Fraser University (SFU) this fall to join the post-secondary school鈥檚 athletic team.
The grade 12 student will be graduating from R.E. Mountain Secondary School in June, and said he was looking for something close to home.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 one of the best areas in the country,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淔or track, it鈥檚 really between UBC and SFU, and SFU has the only National Collegiate Athletic Association team in the country, and that, really, is the goal for amateur athletes.鈥�
The 6鈥�2鈥� sprinter specializes in the 400m and 400m hurdles and said he got in touch with the coaches to talk about his track future before heading over to the Burnaby campus to take a tour.
鈥淚 loved the campus and the athletes were all nice 鈥� some I had seen before competing in 黑马磁力. We talked about what I wanted to do and the coach said 鈥榠f you want to be here, we鈥檒l have you鈥�.鈥�
Allen noted that track teams have a simpler try-out process; none at all.
鈥淔or track, it鈥檚 all quantities. If you run a good time, it鈥檚 available and they鈥檒l know what you can do,鈥� Allen assured.
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Allen developed those good times through seven years of training with the Mustangs, starting with the track club when he was just 10 years old.
He said he never had a reason to leave the club and felt they built him up in a 鈥済rassroots way.鈥�
鈥淭hey鈥檙e about having fun and doing what you love. They build your strength really and only intensity when you鈥檙e in high school,鈥� the athlete explained. 鈥淚 know in some clubs, they really push you when you鈥檙e young. The Mustangs make sure you love the sport first, then they help get to you where you want to do.鈥�
Along the way, Allen earned a multiple gold medals in provincial competitions for the 400m hurdles, and made it to Team BC in 2017, competing in nationals and earning 4th place in the country.
鈥淚 missed out on bronze by point three of a second,鈥� Allen laughed. 鈥淚t was a great experience; I got to know top athletes and test myself by competing in a place that鈥檚 totally unfamiliar.鈥�
Brit Townsend, SFU鈥檚 head track and field coach, had nothing but praise for Allen and his abilities in a recent press release.
鈥淔elix [Allen] will join our sprint group in the 400m hurdles and will compete for a spot on the 4x400m relay down the road,鈥� Townsend said.
Aiden Good is also coming from Carstairs, Alta., and Brandon Heselton from Villa Park, Illinois to join the track team as middle distance runners.
鈥淥ur signees this year are going to be instrumental in continuing to build our success in the GNAC and the NCAA,鈥� coach Townsend added. 鈥漈hese three young men will add depth to both our sprints group and our men鈥檚 distance program. I am excited to see what they will bring both on and off the track, and I am confident they will be a great fit for SFU.鈥�
Allen said he is looking for team atmosphere and looking to get experience of track, but not at the expense of academics.
He鈥檒l be studying science and potentially come out with a civics degree, though Allen couldn鈥檛 quite pinpoint as of yet what he wanted after graduation.
For right now, he just wants to take in the opportunity.
鈥淭here will be probably 4 to 5 two hour practises each week,鈥� Allen said, 鈥渟o about what I鈥檝e been doing already.鈥�
The sprinter will be moving to residence at the campus, an experience Allen said will be different, but something he is very much looking forward to.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure I鈥檒l be back to 黑马磁力 a few times a week,鈥� he assured.
As for recommendations to younger athletes, Allen said what has helped him the most is finding the right support group.
鈥滺aving the right parents and coaches makes the difference; and friends who help you and understand that you might not be available to hang out because of practise,鈥� he added.
Felix Allen will continue training and competing with the Mustangs and will movie to SFU in September.
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