Cowichan multi-sport athlete Robert Lazenby not only won the U16 Mens 1500m race walk at the 47th annual Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships in Alberta Aug. 8 to 10 — he dominated.
With a time of 7:28.55, Lazenby raced to a finish that was nearly two and a half minutes faster than the second-place finisher at Calgary at Foothills Athletic Park.
"Robert is very focused and motivated at track," said his middle-distance coach Matt Tyler. "I've never heard him complain about how difficult a workout is going to be. In fact, as far as Robert is concerned, 'the harder, the better'".
Tyler said Lazenby needs no external motivation to push himself.
"Actually, more of a challenge is reigning him in and helping realize sometimes he has to slow down a little and he's not trying to set PBs every interval of repeat."
Lazenby was sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion Cowichan Branch #053.
The Legion sponsors the U18 and U16 national track and field championships — the only national competition in the country for that age level. This year, more than 1,000 athletes took part.
Lazenby is a member of the Cowichan Valley Track and Field Club. Last season at the 2024 BC Summer Games in Maple Ridge, he won gold in the boys 1500m race walk and was fifth in the boys hammer throw.
The multi-sport athlete is also a competitive bowler, prolific in the Cowichan high school league, and top 10 for his age group on the provincial level.
