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Track and field meet opened a whole world up to Vicki Keith

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3 months ago

August 22, 2025

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Track and field meet opened a whole world up to Vicki Keith

Published Aug 22, 2025 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 6 minute read

Vicki Keith stands on the pool deck at the Boys & Girls Club in Kingston, where she is the Inclusion Advocate for BGC South East. Submitted photo: The Boys & Girls Club South East. Photo by Supplied photo /jpg, KI, apsmc

Editor’s note: Kingston native and swimming legend Vicki Keith pens the latest in our Community Speaker Series, reflecting on key moments in her life that led her to the waters and to philanthropy.

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I distinctly remember yelling “CLEAR” before I walked onto the field to retrieve a cluster of javelins, sticking out of the ground like quills on a befuddled porcupine.

As I approached the center of the field, I felt a whiff of air and turned in time to see a glint of steel hurtle inches from my head. I immediately realized if I hoped to survive my first coaching position, it was essential I create a better javelin retrieval plan.

It was the late 1970s. I was a high school student at LCVI and part of the Lancers track team. After one practice, the coach gathered us together to inform us that Kingston was hosting a track and field meet for athletes with physical disabilities, later that summer. He shared that the organizing committee was looking for local athletes to volunteer coach interested participants.

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I thought, “I can do that” and signed up to coach shot put and javelin. I stepped into the role with confidence well beyond what my scope of knowledge should have allowed, but with an abundance of passion and enthusiasm.

As I contemplated my new role, it seemed odd to me that people were planning on competing in events if they didn’t know the rules, hadn’t practiced the skills, or had otherwise trained. I learned there were so few sporting opportunities for youth with disabilities, this was the first chance many attendees had to experience the exhilaration of competing in a sport. I became even more excited to meet the participants, and share my knowledge of and passion for the sport.

When the competitors arrived, I observed that some were wheelchair users as I expected, but others were ambulatory and had a diverse range of movement and visual differences. The javelin that flew past my head, was thrown by one of the blind athletes, who was unaware I was in the field.

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My introduction to volunteering had come years before this experience. When my brothers and I were young, my parents actively identified core beliefs and qualities they wanted to instill in us. To fulfil this goal, they introduced us to programs and activities that integrated our interests, and these qualities. They registered me in a leadership program at the Y in Ottawa. I was 10 years old.

As part of this program, every Saturday, I volunteered as an assistant swim instructor. I remember watching a group of 20 rambunctious six- and seven-year-olds flock onto the pool deck for their swimming lesson. One boy arrived behind the others. He was pushed onto the pool deck in a wheelchair, and was lifted to the edge of the pool by his mom. My responsibility, I learned, was to support him within the lesson.

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It was his excited anticipation as he bounced in his wheelchair and then the pure joy on his face as I lowered him into the pool, that changed my life forever. With a flip of his foot and a sparkle in his eye, he would dolphin underwater and wait for me to bring him up to the surface for a breath. Eventually, I taught him to roll over on his back upon surfacing, so he could be more independent. I understood that water was his freedom. For half an hour each week, he was liberated from his wheelchair and able to move effortlessly, floating and drifting, plunging and surfacing, gulping air and repeating the actions with contagious joy.

This pivotal moment in my childhood continues to influence my life paths and choices even today. Volunteering became a part of who I am, not what I do.

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Vicki Keith is pictured during her 80km butterfly swim along the shoreline of Lake Ontario in 2005. Photo by Rob Mooy – Kingston This Week /SunMedia

When I headed into my open-water swimming career, I had the opportunity to be the beneficiary of philanthropic giving. Each swim required 30 or more volunteers. We had navigators, weather specialists, lifeguards, food preparers, small boat operators ranging in age from teenagers through to mature adults. Some were family and friends, but others were complete strangers who joined the team to help someone unknown to them, achieve something all the experts deemed impossible.

I had people in the galley of the support boats, navigating and preparing food as they were tossed about in three-metre swells. Others woke up early, stayed up late or even missed whole nights of sleep. I repeatedly witnessed volunteers accept the discomfort of being cold, wet, hungry, sleep deprived, seasick etc. to support our mutual goal. It wasn’t uncommon to see business professionals who were more accustomed to taking leadership and mentorship roles, jump in to perform unskilled or more physical tasks, because it was essential to the overall success of the event.

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Over a million dollars was raised during my swimming career, in large part because we had an outstanding team of volunteers with vision, passion, and a desire to make a positive impact. When asked why they persisted through the physical and emotional exhaustion as well as the multitudes of discomforts, their answers were wide ranging. They spoke of their passion for the work the charity was performing, being captivated by the vision of using a sporting event to inspire and raise funds, the opportunity to be part of a team, or just for the adventure. Each one also voiced the desire to make a positive impact in their world.

In 2001, when the Kingston Y Penguins were established, I was heartened by the number of Kingstonians who reached out to volunteer and offer support. The Kingston YMCA offered pool space, students and adults with swimming backgrounds offered to become assistant coaches, and others offered their assistance supporting the programs either physically or financially to ensure the program’s continuation and growth.

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Vicki Keith, coach of the Kingston Y Penguins at the Kingston YMCA in a June 4, 2019 file photo. Photo by Ian MacAlpine /Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard/

The Greater Kingston area has a multitude of charities and organizations who, like the Y Penguins, have dedicated citizens sharing their time and expertise. These individuals are making a positive impact in their community every day, but often don’t realize how far-reaching and powerful their time, support and other philanthropic gestures are.

I think back to the track and field event organizing committee 50 some years ago. They gave their time to create a special event, that would introduce sport to a population that was searching for something more in their lives. I am sure, the committee couldn’t have envisioned their part in the development of the Kingston Y Penguins Swim Team, all the records set, lakes swum and confidence built, by future generations. That single track and field event has lived on in the hearts of many and made a difference in thousands of lives.

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I have been told that small communities have the highest rate of volunteerism, because there is a stronger sense of community and a greater perception of the potential impact. Kingston may not be a small city, but it definitely has small town heart. We have thousands of volunteers who have identified a need in their community, and stepped in to take action. Some thrive as front-line volunteers, while others prefer a behind the scenes approach. We are diverse in who we are, why we want to volunteer and the type of volunteering we choose, but we are alike in our desire to make a commitment to something we believe in and our thirst to make a positive impact in our world.

I am grateful my parents had the foresight to guide me to such a rewarding path, and sincerely hope everyone has a chance to experience the satisfaction and exhilaration of volunteering at least once in their lives. At every age, volunteering is a great way to connect with like-minded people, build a culture of gratitude and empathy, and develop important communication, leadership, and team building skills.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank all our volunteers, past, present and future. Your commitment, passion and time has transformed more lives than you could ever imagine.

Vicki Keith is a world record holding open-water swimmer, founder and coach of the Kingston Y Penguins and Inclusion Advocate for BGC South East.

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Volleyball Closes Season Against No. 1 Kentucky in NCAA Tournament

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2 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, KY. – The Wofford volleyball team was defeated by the No. 1 seeded Kentucky Wildcats 3-0 on Thursday night inside of Historic Memorial Coliseum in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Terriers close the season 17-14 with a 10-6 record in conference action. Kentucky will take on UCLA tomorrow night.

“Our mindset was to come out and leave it out there,” said head coach Lynze Roos. “I feel like we competed in some really good points. They got some separation and that was tough, but I’m really proud of the way that these women competed in the season that we had.”

Wofford totaled 27 kills on 26 assists throughout the match. On defense, the team posted 54 digs and four blocks. The Wildcats finished the match with 45 kills on 44 assists. Kentucky also posted 56 digs and four blocks.

Leading Wofford was Bradley Brown who had 10 kills on a .259 hitting percentage. Brown also led the team with three blocks. Following behind was Chloe Smith with six kills. Maddy Frazier dished out a team-high 13 assists, while Taylor Pecht had 10. Laney Klika recorded a team-high 13 digs, along with 10 from Caroline Przystup. Annemarie Rakoski and Natalie Arnold tallied one block apiece.

“We talk a lot about playing relentless defense and going for every single ball. We knew that tonight was going to be a tough task, but you never really know unless you go for it,” said Laney Klika.

“We talked a lot before the game about playing how we play and not letting their offense or defense change the way that we like to play,” added Annemarie Rakoski.

“It was amazing just to be able to have some family and friends that I don’t get to see very much anymore come watch me play. It was super cool to just have that support,” said Chloe Smith.

Kentucky grabbed the first two points of set one, but Wofford responded with a solo block by Annemarie Rakoski. Another solo block from Bradley Brown kept the Kentucky lead within one point. With the Wildcats leading 13-8, Kentucky would add four unanswered points to bring the Wofford deficit to nine points. The Terriers could not overcome the Kentucky lead, losing set one 25-11.

The teams were back-and-forth to start set two, as the Terriers would take an early 5-4 lead. Wofford took its biggest advantage – a 15-13 lead – after a pair of Kentucky attacking errors. The Wildcats fought back to take a 20-19 lead, and the team scored the final five points of the stanza to take set two 25-19. Bradley Brown totaled eight kills and one block in the second set alone.

Wofford jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the third set of the match by way of a Bradley Brown kill. Kentucky responded with a 7-1 run, however, to regain the lead. The Wildcats would eventually take a 13-4 advantage. Wofford cut the deficit to six points a few rallies later, but the team would lose set three and ultimately the match.

Wofford concludes the season 17-14 with a 10-6 mark in Southern Conference play. The team entered the conference tournament as the No. 3 seed and defeated both No. 6 Samford and No. 2 Furman to reach the championship match. The Terriers took down No. 1 ETSU to win their third-straight conference championship and earn another bid to the NCAA Tournament.

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Demon Deacons Open Season at Liberty Kickoff

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3 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Wake Forest track and field team opened their 2024-25 indoor track schedule on Thursday afternoon as a pair of Demon Deacons competed in the Liberty Kickoff at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.

Junior Seren Rodgers secured a third place finish in the pentathlon, totaling 3,771 points. With the result, the Taunton, England, native now sits sixth all-time in program history in the women’s indoor pentathlon.

Overall, Rodgers recorded three podium finishes during the competition, including a pair of runner up results in the long jump, where she recorded a jump of 10.32 meters, and the 800m, crossing the line in 2:19.62. Rodgers also claimed third place in the 60m hurdles after clocking a time of 8.86 seconds.

Meanwhile, freshman Julia Aere also competed in the pentathlon, securing eighth place with 3,462 points in her collegiate debut. The Delray Beach, Fla., native placed inside the top-10 in all five events, highlighted by a third place finish in the shot put after recording a distance of 11.13 meters, as well as a fifth place result in the 800m after recording a time of 2:27.34.

Notable Finishes

Pentathlon

2025-26 Indoor Track and Field Top-10 Marks in School History

From the Staff
“I’m really pleased with how the competition progressed today. Julia and Seren competed well and this meet was a great measure of how hard we have worked throughout the fall semester. It gave us a chance to get out, perform at a high level and still recognize that we left some points on the table, which is exciting. We are in a great place heading into the holiday break and this will keep us motivated and hungry. These two ladies set the tone early for the team and we are eager for the rest of the team to compete this weekend.” – Assistant Coach Ryan Grinnell

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The Demon Deacons return to action on Saturday with a pair of meets. One group of Wake Forest athletes will travel to Boston to compete in the 5K race at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Meanwhile, several Deacs will compete at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-off at the JDL Fast Track.

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Lopes unveil 2025-26 indoor slate

Published

3 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Grand Canyon unveiled its 2025-26 indoor track and field schedule, which starts this week with the first of eight regular-season meets and concludes with the Mountain West Indoor Championships in late February.

After the Lopes dominant WAC indoor run of 14 conference titles between the men’s and women’s teams, GCU will compete in its first season as a Mountain West member.

Coach Flood celebrates with sprinter after final

Coach Flood celebrates with sprinter after final

“This schedule and competition should prepare both our men’s and women’s teams to make a lot of noise at our inaugural Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships, as well as send a lot of our athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championships,” GCU head coach Tom Flood said.

Grand Canyon’s indoor schedule will feature meets in trips to Flagstaff, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Reno, Nevada.

“Again, we are really excited about our indoor schedule,” Flood said. “We will again be competing at some of the finest indoor facilities in the country and against some of the best track and field programs in the country.”

The 2025-26 season begins Thursday as the Lopes travel to Reno, Nevada, before taking a break until the new year. From there, they will travel to Flagstaff and Albuquerque before heading back to Reno for the Mountain West Indoor Championships.

GCU aims to represent at the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

For the full indoor schedule, click here.

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Men’s and Women’s Track and Field 2026 Season Preview

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3 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

A new era in Hope College track and field begins today with the first indoor meet of the 2026 season.

Beginning at noon, the Flying Dutch and Flying Dutchmen are competing at the Grand Valley State University Holiday Open under the leadership of first-year head coach Jordan Bartolazzi, the 11th women’s head coach in program history and the 13th men’s coach.

Bartolazzi, who built his alma mater, Elmhurst University (Illinois), into a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin power before coming to Hope, is thrilled with the progress both teams made during preseason workouts.

“There was a lot of good stuff going on here to build on,” Bartolazzi said. “Our focus, with every practice, has been preparing to compete, whether we’re an All-American or trying to crack the conference lineup. We have a lot of student-athletes working really hard. We’ve been having a ball. There has been really good energy. I think it’s been a good start for us.”

The Flying Dutch, who finished third in the MIAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll, feature a roster of 73, with 17 seniors, 17 juniors, 14 sophomores and 25 freshmen.

The Flying Dutchmen, who also tookl thjird in the MIAA Men’s Indoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll, have a roster of 64, with 18 seniors, nine juniors, 17 sophomores and 20 freshmen.

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Jordan Bartolazzi, first season

Distance coach: Mark Northuis

Distance assistant coaches: Dan Campbell, Mike Northuis

Throws coach: Paul Markel

Jumps coach: Addy Gerig

Pole vault coaches: Jon Lunderberg, Ben Turner

Women’s Roster

Senior Sara Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) is Hope’s top returner after claiming All-America honors in four events for the second consecutive season in 2025: indoor and outdoor 200 meters and indoor and outdoor 400 meters.

The exercise science major swept MIAA Most Valuable Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete honors as a junior and earned MIAA Most Valuable Indoor Track Athlete accolades in back-to-back seasons. She became the first sprinter in league history to win titles in the 60, 200 and 400 at the same meet.

Schermerhorn set MIAA records in the indoor 200 and 400 meters last season. She also ran on the MIAA champion 4×400 relay, which returns two other sprinters: senior Frances Cozzens (Lyman, New Hampshire / Saint Johnsbury Academy) and sophomore Sofia Fisher (Lombard, Illinois / Montini Catholic).

Hope returns three runners from the MIAA champion distance medley relay: senior Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South), junior Amanda Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) and sophomore Lily Sackrider (St. Johns, Michigan / St. Johns).

Durow is coming off an All-America cross country campaign this fall. The special education major finished 32nd at the Division III national championships and was runner-up at the Great Lakes Regional and MIAA Championships.

“We have great leadership,” Bartolazzi said. “Not only do we have some great upperclassmen, but we have some really wonderful seniors who have made an effort to welcome our freshmen and newcomers to the program. It’s a gift to have great senior leadership in year one.”

Men’s Roster

Hope returns senior sprinter Liam Danitz, the 2025 First Team All-MIAA honoree and MIAA Most Valuable Men’s Indoor Track Athlete.

Danitz (West Branch, Michigan / Ogemaw Heights) set an MIAA record in the 200-meter dash (21.59), earned First Team All-America honors with a fifth-place national finish in the 200 (21.93), and took second in the 60-meter dash (6.83) for All-MIAA Second Team honors.

The exercise science major also contributed to an All-MIAA Second Team 4×400 relay alongside returning junior Dylan Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville).

Senior Erickson Kunzler (Marne, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) returns as the MIAA 800-meter champion after posting a winning time of 1:56.09.

Senior Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) and junior Carter Dean (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) also return from last year’s All-MIAA First Team distance medley relay.

Cole recorded Hope’s top cross country finish at nationals this fall. The Flying Dutchmen placed 23rd in the nation as a team and made history with their first Great Lakes Regional title since 1980 and first MIAA crown since 1986.

Sophomore Logan Begeman (Portage, Michigan / Portage Central) ran away with the Great Lakes Regional and MIAA individual championships.

“They’re hungry,” Bartolazzi said of the Flying Dutchmen. “Having that breakthrough season in cross country is such a gift. They felt like they were close and believed they could compete at the conference and national levels. They showed they could. That carries over to the track season.”

Schedule

The Flying Dutch and Flying Dutchmen are scheduled to compete in 10 indoor meets and eight outdoor meets.

The MIAA Indoor Championships are Saturday, Feb. 28, at Trine University.

The NCAA Indoor Championships are Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Hope will host the MIAA Outdoor Championships on Friday-Saturday, April 30-May 1, at Brewer Track.

The NCAA Outdoor Championships are Thursday-Saturday, May 21-23, in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

“One thing I wanted to do this year was get our student-athletes on banked tracks a little more,” Bartolazzi said. “Nationals will be on a banked track, so I want them to know what that feels like. It’s a great thing in West Michigan — you don’t have to go far to race against really good people.”

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Mustangs Open Track and Field Season This Weekend

Published

4 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Blue-Gold Invite

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Friday, December 5, 2025

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McFerrin-12 Degree Invite

Fasken Indoor Track – College Station, Texas

Saturday, December 6, 2025

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Sharon Colyear Danville Season Opener

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Saturday, December 6, 2025

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DALLAS, Texas (SMU) — The Mustangs will open up their 2025-2026 track and field season across three different meets this weekend. The distance ponies will split between Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Invite and Boston University’s Sharon Colyear Danville Season Opener. The rest of the team will travel to Texas A&M’s McFerrin-12 Degree Invite.

This meet will serve as a soft opener for the Mustangs with the remainder of the season beginning in mid-January. The distance athletes are coming off a successful cross country season, which concluded with an appearance at the national championship for Rose Mburu, but this will be the first competition for the sprints, jumps, and multis after fall training.

The action will begin on Friday at Notre Dame and continue at the other two meets on Saturday.

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Sooners Set to Host OU Winter Field Fest Season Opener

Published

4 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma track and field team is set to host the OU Winter Field Fest on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Mosier Indoor Facility in Norman, Okla.

The meet is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and will include a combination of field and sprint events.

Admission is free to fans. Live results from the OU Winter Field Fest can be found via TimingInc.

The Sooners are coming off their first season in the SEC, where they claimed seven individual conference titles.

OU Winter Field Fest Schedule of Events
Triple Jump (M) – 1:30 p.m.
Weight Throw (M) – 1:30 p.m.
High Jump (W) – 2:30 p.m.
Triple Jump (W) – 3 p.m.
Pole Vault (W) – 3 p.m.
Weight Throw (W) – 3 p.m.
60M Hurdles Prelims (W) – 3 p.m.
60M Hurdles Prelims (M) – 3:15 p.m.
60M Dash Prelims (W) – 3:30 p.m.
60M Dash Prelims (M) – 3:45 p.m.
Long Jump (M) – 4:30 p.m.
Shot Put (M) – 4:30 p.m.
60M Hurdles Finals (W) – 4:30 p.m.
60M Hurdles Finals (M) – 4:40 p.m.
60M Dash Finals (W) – 4:50 p.m.
60M Dash Finals (M) – 5 p.m.
Pole Vault (M) – 5:30 p.m.
Long Jump (W) – 6 p.m.
High Jump (M) – 6 p.m.
Shot Put (W) – 6 p.m.

For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.

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