Kingston’s Alex Drover makes track debut at World Junior Track and Field championships

Kingston track star Alex Drover will represent Canada in the steeplechase at the World Junior Track and Field championships next month.

The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.

The sport has been an Olympic event since 1900.

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Now covering a distance of 3,000 metres, it is a sport that Drover has fallen in love with.

“It’s a lot more fun than the other events,” says Drover, a graduate of Kingston Collegiate Vocational Institute.

“There’s some added spice to it, jumping over the barriers, such as hurdles and water hazards.”

Drover, who just finished his first year at McMaster University in Hamilton has set the standard needed to qualify for international competition.

He’s off to Tampere, Finland, for the championships, which run July 10-15.

“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” added Drover, who won a silver medal in the steeplechase at the 2017 Ontario High School Track and Field championships in Belleville.

“It’s an honour to represent Canada, and I’m thrilled to be able to qualify for the national team. This will be the stiffest test I’ve ever faced, so winning may not be in the books, but the experience will be invaluable for future races.”

“He sets lofty goals,” says Drover’s head coach Brant Stachel from Queen’s University. Stachel doubles as a coach for the Gaels successful cross-country program.

“Alex has drive and determination, and focuses on the process of being goal-oriented. He gets everything out of himself and that’s a sign of being a successful competitor.”

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Both Stachel and Drover are realistic when it comes to results in Finland.

“I know I’m not going to win,” says Drover.

“My goal is to make the final or run a personal best. If I can achieve one, or both of those it would be absolutely amazing.”