OLDS — It’s been an alternately great and frustrating outdoor season for masters throwing athlete and coach Rachel Andres of Olds.
Back in the spring, Andres won both the Open Women’s Athlete of the Year and the Masters Women’s Athlete of the Year awards. She is the first athlete to ever win both in the same year.
This past weekend, she officiated during the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships held Aug. 10-12 in Calgary. It featured the best U16 and U18 athletes in Canada.
On Aug. 2, Andres competed during the Canadian Outdoor nationals in Ottawa.
“Finally the weather was super nice, other than the smoke,” she wrote to the Albertan in an email.
“I woke up the morning of the competition with the worst calf cramp I’ve ever had and had to do some creative taping to manage the pain.
“It didn’t release for two days, but I was determined to throw well anyway. I threw my best throw at a nationals since 2019 with a 57.02 metre throw for a second-place finish. It was also my best throw in Canada this year.”
The Western Canada Team Challenge was held July 18-20 in Calgary. Andres competed in that event as a prep meet for the nationals.
“Unfortunately, it rained again for my event and while I got first, I didn’t throw anything super spectacular,” she wrote.
Andres had spectacular results during the provincials, held July 4-6 in Calgary.
“I took first in the open women’s discus, immediately followed by a first in master’s women’s discus, where I reset the meet record. I also took first in shot put,” she wrote.
Andres also competed in the CALTAF Classic, held June 20-22 in Calgary.
“That weekend was the absolute worst weather I’ve had at any track meet since I started competing 29 years ago,” she wrote.
“I competed the Friday night in pouring rain, so no stellar distances. Saturday was so cold and wet that I went hypothermic.”
