Jade Canak loves the thrill of competing in a fast hurdles race.

The speed and adrenaline provides more than enough excitement for the Erskine senior.

And the jumping events?

“I love them,” she said. “You can kind of get lost a little bit. You have time for just yourself doing them. You can focus and just relax a little easier. They are a lot of fun.”

No matter the event, Canak shined this winter.

She won the long jump and finished second in the triple jump at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B championship meet. Canak also finished third in the 55-meter hurdles to put an exclamation point on the meet.

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For her accomplishments this season Canak is the Kennebec Journal Girls Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

“I was happy with the season,” she said. “It was fun.”

Canak also broke school records in the triple jump and 55 hurdles this season.

“Jade Canak is humble and poised,” Erskine coach Dave Hickey said. “She broke two school records and repeated as long jump champ in the KVAC. She had a great season.”

At the KVAC B meet, she won the long jump with a leap of 15 feet 4 inches. Runnerup Nicole Nicholls, of Medomak, finished nearly a foot behind.

Canak also placed second in the triple jump with a leap of 35-4. Kellie Bolduc, of Waterville, won the event in 36-0.75.

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“We go back and forth,” Canak said. “We push each other. One jump she’ll go further and then I’ll go further on another one.”

Canak finished the 55 hurdles in 9.19 seconds.

“I was pleased,” she said. “It was a fast race.”

Canak followed up her strong showing at the KVAC’s with another one at the Class B state meet.

She finished second in the triple jump (34-5) and fourth in the long jump (15-11). She also went seventh in the hurdles (9.24).

“I was pleased,” she said. “It was a good day. I did what I wanted to do, for the most part.”

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Now, Canak will shift her focus to the outdoor season.

“It’s what I’ve been training for,” she said. “I can’t wait.”

Added Hickey: “She is a young woman of action who has a passion for excellence.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640 bstewart@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @billstewartkj


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