JARVIS—Fourteen-year-old LaBron Arrendell is new to competitive track and field, but he’s already leaving his mark.
After taking up the sport at a higher level last October, he has trained hard to develop new skills and accelerate his performance. Just three months later he has qualified for a team that will represent Athletics Ontario at the U16 Ontario vs Quebec (ON vs QC) Championship Cup Dual meet next month.
LaBron has always enjoyed track and field and his proficiency at the sport was evident during elementary school at Jarvis Community Christian School (JCCS).
His favourite events are the 100 and 800 metre races and high jump and he’s also strong in relay and long jump.
At his Grade 8 graduation in June 2023, LaBron received the JCCS Athletic Award. Recognizing his talent, his aunt, Shannon Veurink, invited him to join her at the Athletiques International Track and Field Club in Cayuga.
His mom, Cheryl, says, “She has always loved track and field and saw the potential in LaBron.”
It didn’t take long for Athletiques Coach Bruce Burton to also see his potential. According to the family, Coach Burton, who has worked with Canadian sprint legend Donovan Bailey, describes LaBron as a natural athlete and a quick learner. With his encouragement and guidance, LaBron has focused on high jump and hurdles, an event he had never tried before joining the club.
Due to his lack of hurdles experience, LaBron admits, “I just hopped over them at first; I had to tweak my form.”
That tweaking meant a commitment to training. The club training schedule is three days a week – one day is conditioning at JL Mitchener in Cayuga, one is running at the Cayuga Arena, and one is practice in the gym at Hagersville Secondary School. In addition, LaBron trains at home and with his aunt.
LaBron lined up at his first track meet in December 2023.
While he kept up with the more experienced athletes, he knew his technique was not good. On top of that, he was not accustomed to using starting blocks.
Cheryl recalls, “He was ready to quit hurdles after December because he was embarrassed, but his aunt and his coach encouraged him to stay with it.”
With more training, including practising at home using hurdles set up in the basement and out in the workshop, LaBron was ready for the Ontario Selection Track Meet on January 13, 2024.
This was a qualifying meet for the U16 Team Ontario that will compete in the upcoming U16 ON vs QC Championship Cup.
LaBron’s mom beams as she shares, “By the event in January he had mastered the technique and took a second off his time to win that race.”
A third-place finish in the high jump was enough to qualify for that event as well. According to Cheryl, the coach has said that he may do more events at the ON vs QC meet, perhaps even the relay.
While success at this event can lead to more opportunities, LaBron remains grounded.
To be doing so well against athletes who have been training for years is impressive but Cheryl says, “He is very humble and kind; he’s not a show boat.”
In his sports LaBron likes to encourage and support others. He appreciated the support he received from other athletes at the Selection Meet.
The ON vs QC Championship Cup takes place Saturday, February 10, 2024 at the Toronto Track and Field Centre at York University.
LaBron is looking forward to the experience and says, “It means a lot…. It feels good to represent the province.”
He adds, “I’m looking forward to my hurdle race and the high jump event, meeting people and representing my club.”
He also looks forward to the high school track and field season at Holy Trinity Catholic High School where he is in Grade 9. He also plays soccer and basketball.
When it comes to his love of track and field, LaBron simply says, “I just like to run and I like the competition. I get very nervous before races but once the gun goes off it’s fine.”
To learn more about the U16 ON vs QC Championship Cup Dual and follow the event visit athleticsontario.ca/events/on-vs-qc-u16-dual-meet.
