For Leah Pells, competing at the B.C. high school track and field provincial championships was an eye-opening experience.

Competing for Langley Secondary at the 1980 and 1981 championships, Pells didn香蕉视频直播檛 find the podium, nor did she run particularly well.

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香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think I placed higher than eighth. But it was a great event.香蕉视频直播�

Of course, her lack of podium finishes didn香蕉视频直播檛 hamper as a middle distance runner and at one point was ranked No. 1 in the world.

香蕉视频直播淚 always tell kids that if you don香蕉视频直播檛 do well there, there is still lots of time,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淲hatever happens there, you can build on it and propel yourself forward.

香蕉视频直播淚 always remind kids that this is just one experience of many that you are going to have.香蕉视频直播�

Starting Thursday (June 1), 2,500 athletes will go for gold as McLeod Athletic Park hosts the 2017 B.C. high school track and field championships.

The meet runs until Saturday.

And to celebrate the meet香蕉视频直播檚 50th year, former Canadian Olympic athletes, national team members and provincial high school champions, will be on hand throughout the meet to present medals in the various events.

The list of presenters is still being finalized, but will include shot putter Dylan Armstrong, who won bronze at the 2008 Games.

Andrew Lenton serves as the track and field commissioner for BC School Sports, and he says while the event itself has gotten bigger 香蕉视频直播� more athletes competing and the ability to live stream events thanks to advances in technology, to name a couple 香蕉视频直播� the meet remains a marquee event.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I competed in high school, this was one event that was on the national landscape,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Lenton won bronze in the 1500m in 1984 as a Grade 10 student.

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For more on the championships, visit www.langleytimes.com.