By Joel van der Veen

HANLEY — Brian Grest remembers the day a young Taryn Suttie set her first provincial track and field record.

Suttie, then a Grade 10 student at Hanley Composite School, had made her final throw in the midget girls shot put at the provincial meet in Regina.

It was a solid shot, but when she saw the judges gathering for a quick chat, she turned to her coach with a worried look.

Grest had words of reassurance for her: “I smiled and I said, ‘I think they’re measuring for a record.’”

He said the memory reflects the kind of athlete Suttie is: determined and ready to work hard, but also humble in her success.

“She was never a showoff, never a cocky person,” Grest said. “Everything that comes her way is deserved.”

Suttie, 25, learned Monday that she would be part of the team representing Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next month.

She will compete in the shot put event, as one of two competitors from Saskatchewan on the athletics team.

Suttie said Tuesday she felt relieved by the news, to have reached a goal she has worked towards for several years.

The athletes representing the Great White North were confirmed following the Canadian Championships and Selection Trials, held from July 7 to 10 at Foote Field in Edmonton.

Suttie said she didn’t perform as well as she’d hoped during trials, scoring a top throw of 16.71 metres in five attempts.

Even so, she finished in second place, more than a metre ahead of the third-place competitor, and earning herself a spot on the Olympic team.

“I was a little concerned,” she said. “Everything’s good. I’m on the team.”

The 65 members of Canada’s athletics team for the 2016 Olympic Games were announced on July 11.

Heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, a Humboldt native, is the sole other competitor from Saskatchewan. (Sprints and relays coach Carla Nicholls hails from Regina.)

Also competing in throwing events are Elizabeth Gleadle of Vancouver (javelin throw); Brittany Crew of East York, Ont. (shot put); Heather Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta. (hammer throw) and Tim Nedow of Brockville, Ont. (shot put).

Last week, Taryn was visiting at her parents’ home north of Hanley, getting ready to head to Cleveland, Ohio to continue her training.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said her mother Deb. “She’s worked really hard for a long time.”

For the full story, please see the July 18 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.