SE: Commonwealth Games a ‘Big Deal’ for Five Track and Field Wildcats
Apr 09, 2018 | Track & Field, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
After the Olympics Games, the next most prestigious stage for track and field is a matter of debate. In fairness, a big part of it depends on where someone was born.
For Americans, it's the IAAF World Championships, held every year. For those born within the Commonwealth, an organization of more than 50 countries that are mostly former territories of the British Empire, the Commonwealth Games is up there as well.
"We, in our country, don't pay much attention to it. The real big track fans might, but, in general, we do not because the United States is not competing. But for the countries that are a part of it, it is a pretty big deal for most of them. It is their major meet in the calendar year," said K-State Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto, who will be in Australia to coach a handful of Wildcats for the 21stCommonwealth Games. "Some of those countries, in terms of getting support from their federation going forward, making finals and potentially medaling at the Commonwealth Games is a big deal and they weight it almost as heavily as World Championships. For them, it is a big deal."
Held every four years since 1930, except for 1942 and 1946 due to the World War II, this year's Commonwealth Games started last week and will wrap up on Sunday.
Before then, three current Wildcats — shot put senior Jess St. John (Antigua and Barbuda), freshman high jumper Tejaswin Shankar (India) and sophomore heptathlete Nina Schultz (Canada) — and two former Wildcats — high jumper Alyx Treasure (Canada) and long jumper Ifeanyi Otuonye (Turks and Caicos) — will compete for their respective countries.
"For me, it's a great honor to be able to represent my country at one of the biggest possible Games," Shankar said. "I think, after the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games is one of the biggest championships in the world."
"It's a big honor. I'm actually the only shot put thrower from my island, so it's a big deal for me," St. John, who will throw in the qualifying round on Wednesday, added. "I'm pretty excited. It's going to be my first Commonwealth, so I'm just going there for experience and to just to go out there and do my best."
In all, 71 countries will be represented at the Commonwealth Games. Included are a number of internationally well-respected track and field programs, such as Canada, Jamaica, England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, to name a few.
Regardless of how the Wildcats finish, all agreed that the experience would be beneficial. More than anything, it will be a test of handling nerves on an international stage with some of the world's greatest in front of thousands of fans.
"You get to compete against world-class athletes, so it kind of motivates you to push yourself to the best of your abilities," said St. John, whose top outdoor mark this season is tied for 20thin the NCAA. "It's some of the top athletes in the entire world. It's going to be a great experience."
Shankar, who jumped 2.21m/7-03 in the qualifying round on Sunday evening to advance to the finals on Wednesday, said he hopes to use the mindset he's developed at K-State to handle everything.
"I'm not thinking about medals or anything," he said. "That's what I've learned after coming here, stop thinking about what I want to get out of the competition. Now I started focusing more on the process and what I have to do in order to get there. That's one thing I've really learned coming here, and I think that's really helped the past season because I've been performing consistently. Hopefully going into this competition, consistency is what will help me get to where I want. Other than that, I think it's going to be a great experience for me."
While Shankar is not focused on medaling, Rovelto said both he and Schultz have legitimate shots to do so. Shankar is currently tied for second in the world with a clearance of 2.28m/7-5.75, while Schultz, who will compete Wednesday through Friday, holds the world's top heptathlon score (6,018) so far this season.
"For young, 19-year old kids to be representing their countries and to have the opportunity to medal in a senior competition, it is a big deal for them, which is why we, as coaches, really want them to do it," Rovelto said. "They are going to miss a couple of our meets because of it, but in terms of their overall development, it is a big opportunity for them. Just having the opportunity to be there and experience it will just make their next international competition that much easier."
After the Olympics Games, the next most prestigious stage for track and field is a matter of debate. In fairness, a big part of it depends on where someone was born.
For Americans, it's the IAAF World Championships, held every year. For those born within the Commonwealth, an organization of more than 50 countries that are mostly former territories of the British Empire, the Commonwealth Games is up there as well.
"We, in our country, don't pay much attention to it. The real big track fans might, but, in general, we do not because the United States is not competing. But for the countries that are a part of it, it is a pretty big deal for most of them. It is their major meet in the calendar year," said K-State Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto, who will be in Australia to coach a handful of Wildcats for the 21stCommonwealth Games. "Some of those countries, in terms of getting support from their federation going forward, making finals and potentially medaling at the Commonwealth Games is a big deal and they weight it almost as heavily as World Championships. For them, it is a big deal."
Held every four years since 1930, except for 1942 and 1946 due to the World War II, this year's Commonwealth Games started last week and will wrap up on Sunday.
Before then, three current Wildcats — shot put senior Jess St. John (Antigua and Barbuda), freshman high jumper Tejaswin Shankar (India) and sophomore heptathlete Nina Schultz (Canada) — and two former Wildcats — high jumper Alyx Treasure (Canada) and long jumper Ifeanyi Otuonye (Turks and Caicos) — will compete for their respective countries.
"For me, it's a great honor to be able to represent my country at one of the biggest possible Games," Shankar said. "I think, after the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games is one of the biggest championships in the world."
"It's a big honor. I'm actually the only shot put thrower from my island, so it's a big deal for me," St. John, who will throw in the qualifying round on Wednesday, added. "I'm pretty excited. It's going to be my first Commonwealth, so I'm just going there for experience and to just to go out there and do my best."
In all, 71 countries will be represented at the Commonwealth Games. Included are a number of internationally well-respected track and field programs, such as Canada, Jamaica, England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, to name a few.
Regardless of how the Wildcats finish, all agreed that the experience would be beneficial. More than anything, it will be a test of handling nerves on an international stage with some of the world's greatest in front of thousands of fans.
"You get to compete against world-class athletes, so it kind of motivates you to push yourself to the best of your abilities," said St. John, whose top outdoor mark this season is tied for 20thin the NCAA. "It's some of the top athletes in the entire world. It's going to be a great experience."
Shankar, who jumped 2.21m/7-03 in the qualifying round on Sunday evening to advance to the finals on Wednesday, said he hopes to use the mindset he's developed at K-State to handle everything.
"I'm not thinking about medals or anything," he said. "That's what I've learned after coming here, stop thinking about what I want to get out of the competition. Now I started focusing more on the process and what I have to do in order to get there. That's one thing I've really learned coming here, and I think that's really helped the past season because I've been performing consistently. Hopefully going into this competition, consistency is what will help me get to where I want. Other than that, I think it's going to be a great experience for me."
While Shankar is not focused on medaling, Rovelto said both he and Schultz have legitimate shots to do so. Shankar is currently tied for second in the world with a clearance of 2.28m/7-5.75, while Schultz, who will compete Wednesday through Friday, holds the world's top heptathlon score (6,018) so far this season.
"For young, 19-year old kids to be representing their countries and to have the opportunity to medal in a senior competition, it is a big deal for them, which is why we, as coaches, really want them to do it," Rovelto said. "They are going to miss a couple of our meets because of it, but in terms of their overall development, it is a big opportunity for them. Just having the opportunity to be there and experience it will just make their next international competition that much easier."
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