For one family in Yorkton, the sport of running has become more than just a hobby or a form of exercise.
Kelsey, Jennifer and Josh Haczkewicz have all been valuable members of the Yorkton Regional High School track and field and cross-country teams. What makes it even more of a family affair is that their father and school principal, Mike Haczkewicz, is the coach of the distance track and field athletes, and the cross-country team.
In September, twins Kelsey and Jennifer are taking their talents to the next level. Both athletes have accepted positions on the University of Regina track and field team. Kelsey will compete in distance running and Jennifer in high jump.
Josh, who will be starting grade ten in September, will continue with the YRHS teams in hopes of one day making it to the university level like his older sisters.
While all three siblings are involved in both track and field and cross-country, they agree that track and field is their preference. Each of them had an impressive season this past year, racking up multiple medals at the east central district track and field championships.
Kelsey picked up gold medals in the senior girls 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m divisions. She also won a silver medal at the provincial meet in the 800m. Jennifer won gold in the high jump division at districts. And Josh won gold in the midget boys 800m and 1500m divisions, and silver in the 400m.
The success of the children comes from hard work according to their father, but there’s no doubt it runs in their blood.
Mike competed in track and field and cross-country throughout high school and for one year in university. Their mom also runs frequently, and has even dipped her toe into the world of marathon running.
Mike said he’s been teaching for 28 years, and has been coaching since day one. He said he began coaching as a way to give back.
“[Competing] was really good for me. I got to meet lots of people, travel, see places and learn how to compete. It’s fun to give back,” he said.
As for his kids, he said he’s not 100 per cent sure what makes them all so good at the sport.
“The biggest thing about distance running is doing the work. It’s running the miles, and they’ve all bought into this system since grade six,” he said. “I think they see the benefit of it – all the hard work and training.”
He added that the initial success that the kids had likely fueled their fire as well.
The kids say they got into running because it’s what both of their parents did. They all started the sport early, in just the third grade. But Kelsey explained that it was around the eighth grade when they all started taking it more seriously and training more regularly.
Family time
As many parents would agree, finding time to spend with high school kids can be a challenge.
Mike said that having the extra time to spend with his kids is pretty cool.
“It’s super. What parent wouldn’t want to go to a meet and help [their kids] out, and interact with them at that level?” he said.
The Haczkewicz kids all agreed that it’s nice to have that common ground with their father.
“He just understands what we’re doing,” explained Jennifer.
With all that extra time spent together, the kids admit that there have been a few cases of head butting with their dad.
“Just with Jennifer,” Kelsey said with a laugh.
Since Jennifer competes in high jumping – something that Mike admits he’s not overly familiar with – they’ve had their differences. But it’s something they can all have a laugh about now.
Now, as the twins get set for their move to Regina, Mike said he’s glad that they’re going together.
“The support that they’ll offer one another will be huge. Leaving home is big for mom and dad, and for them, so I think them going away together will be special,” he said.
The girls had similar thoughts.
“I think it’ll be cool to actually have a twin on the team. There are other girls with twins there but they don’t compete also, so we’ll be the only full set,” said Kelsey.
Jennifer and Kelsey agreed that being able to continue in the sport they love together is something they look forward to as they take on the next level of the track and field world.
