Josh Hill made sure that his final event for Medstead Central School was one to remember.
The Grade 12 student captured the gold medal in the senior boys discus event Saturday in Saskatoon at the SHSAA provincial track and field championships at Griffith Stadium, thanks to a throw of 40.52 metres.
鈥淚 went into the meet hoping to throw in the 40s and see where things ended up after that,鈥� Hill said.
鈥淚 felt fairly confident that I would be able to do that after some strong practice throws, but you never really know what will happen until the event starts.鈥�
As it turned out, Hill鈥檚 first throw proved to be the best of the day, as he was able to edge out Matthew Kemp from the Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute in Outlook for the gold medal.
鈥淚 knew that my throw would be a pretty good one, but I didn鈥檛 think it would go as far as it did as it tailed off a little bit at the end,鈥� Hill said.
鈥淚t was really close with Matthew and I at the end. He made a really good throw on his last attempt and the official paused a bit after he said 40, so it was a little nerve wracking for both of us until he said .38 metres.鈥�
This was the second medal that Hill has won in the discus event at provincials, as he won a bronze medal at the 2015 meet in Yorkton.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e gotten a lot better with my nerves over the last four years,鈥� Hill said. 鈥淚 really didn鈥檛 know what to expect the first year I went to the provincials, but as the years went on I had a better idea of what I needed to do.鈥�
There鈥檚 a chance that Hill can continue his strong performances at the post-secondary level, as he was offered a spot on the University of Saskatchewan鈥檚 track and field team for next season.
鈥淭hat would be pretty exciting if I make it on that team,鈥� said Hill, who will be studying education in Saskatoon.
鈥淣one of this would be possible without the help of my coach Kelly Schneider. He鈥檚 been working with me pretty much every day for the six years, and it鈥檚 greatly appreciated.鈥�
