Citius, altius, fortius (faster, higher, stronger) is the Olympic motto, and it can easily describe hammer-thrower Courtenay Neville-Rutherford’s development over the last few years.
The 17-year-old Parkland Secondary student continues to shine as she spins her way through her massive deliveries in the throwing cage.
Her latest accomplishment came in the first day of the Vancouver Island high school track and field championships on Wednesday at UVic’s Centennial Stadium as Neville-Rutherford topped the field with a personal-best 45.53-metre (with the four-kilogram hammer) throw that will advance her to provincials, May 31-June 1 at Langley’s McLeod Stadium.
“I was not throwing well on Monday and Tuesday at practice, so I was hoping to do 45 metres, because I had been stuck in the 44 [metre] area. So I am happy with it,” she said after the win.
Neville-Rutherford recorded a 44.69-metre throw on her first attempt in the opening three rounds, then fouled the next two. In the medal round, she came back with tosses of 44.82m, the winning 45.53m throw and a 44.80m final attempt.
“It’s important to get that first one out and then go for it,” she said of competing.
The Sidney native, who is still in Grade 11, has the ultimate goal of representing Canada at an Olympic Games and she is expected to wear the Maple Leaf at the World Youth Championships in Ukraine from July 10-14.
Neville-Rutherford is the top-ranked hammer-thrower in the country in the age group, ahead of Manpreet Grewal of the Vancouver area. The top two are selected to attend the world event.
Neville-Rutherford has already surpassed the qualifying standard of 52 metres (with a three-kilogram hammer) as she carries a 54.84m personal best in that weight class.
“She’s been throwing 54s and we’re expecting her to reach 56 to 57 this season,” said coach Sheldon Gmitroski, who is one of a few instructors with the Pacific Athletic Throws group that trains out at Lambrick Park, where Wednesday’s competition was held.
“She works hard. That was a personal best today; you always have to be happy with a PB,” said Gmitroski, whose daughter Krysta Gmitroski, of Lambrick Park, was second with a personal best of 38.80m, ahead of Sydney Vandermale of G.P. Vanier, who finished third at 34.31m.
Both Neville-Rutherford and her coach are hoping the trip to Ukraine comes through.
“It will be interesting because you’re talking about competing against people who have been throwing since they were eight or nine years old,” said her coach. “Courtenay is very good, very fast and it would be good for her to make the final there. It would be a great opportunity to see what’s out there in the world.”
To date, four Canadians have met the standard, but Neville-Rutherford continues to be rated first overall.
The hammer is one of four throwing disciplines in track and field competitions; the others are discus, shot put and javelin. The throwing motion involves a pair of swings from a stationary position, then three or four rotations of the body in a fast, circular motion that takes advantage of a heel-toe movement of the foot. The thrower releases the ball from the front of the circle in a caged area.
A former runner, Neville-Rutherford was introduced to the sport by her sister Kim.
“I kind of asked the coach who was there at the time [five years ago] if I could join in. After a while he was like, ‘I don’t know if I can help you much anymore.’ So I came out here to start training,” she said of joining the Pacific Athletic Throws group.
“The first time she came out she was shaking, quivering and spinning on her butt on her first two throws to what you see today,” said coach Gmitroski. “It’s been a huge difference. She’s grown as an athlete, as a person, grown in self confidence.
“She demands a lot of herself, which is a good thing, but you also have to be able to forgive yourself because not every day is perfect,” he added.
“Sure, there’s room to improve, but it’s coming. She’s only in Grade 11.”
And it’s the Olympic rings that continue to push her along as she is still 10 years away from the peak age of competition for hammer throwers.
“That’s the main goal and I do want to continue this through university,” said Neville-Rutherford. “I’ve been researching [schools], trying to establish where to go. I have about 12 in mind to choose from.”
They include a few in California and just one in Canada — Simon Fraser University — for Neville-Ruherford, who already has a pair of national youth titles under her, from Prince Edward Island last August and two years ago in Ottawa.
The Island competition continues today with most events at Centennial Stadium.
