The St. Albert Mustangs gallop into the outdoor season as the rebranded St. Albert Track and Field Club.
The name change was made prior to the indoor campaign.
“We came up with the Mustangs because of strength and endurance and speed,” said Carrie Saunders, the senior sprint coach. “It was a hard decision for the board to make but we all felt we needed a new logo. The old logo was the city logo and we really needed something for ourselves instead. We didn’t really have any graphics or any kind of theme behind the club.”
Head coach Mike Robinson proposed the new name and helped create the logo.
“We have a team that is more junior development and not at the senior level so we felt it would be better to brand it the Mustangs. If we want to have a little group in the future for peewees they can call it the Colts,” Saunders said.
The Mustangs Track Club has five coaches instructing athletes eight to 18 years old through Athletics Canada’s Run Jump Throw program. As athletes advance to the senior age levels they can focus on specific events.
The Mustangs will continue to help with various school meets at Fowler Athletic Park and will maintain their relationship with the St. Albert Track and Field Foundation.
The Mustangs will also host the Alberta Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the peewee, bantam, midget and youth age groups June 22 to 24. It’s also the Team Alberta trials for the Midget Western Canadians and Legion Canadian Youth Athletic Championships.
Saunders said the annual St. Albert Challenge meet will not be held this year because of provincials. She estimates 600 athletes will attend the meet. Two years ago 580 athletes competed at provincials in St. Albert.
“There will be upgrades done to the track for pole vault and steeplechase for provincials,” she said.
The Mustangs will also honour the memory of Charlie Green at provincials. Green was a long-time St. Albert track coach who passed away recently.
“I’ve known him since I used to run and he was such a great coach,” Saunders said. “There is a new speed track at Fowler and it will be called the Charlie Green Speed Track.”
The Mustangs start outdoor training April 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Fowler track.
Visit www.mustangstrackclub.com for more information.
