Trinity Hansma will take her track and field talents to new heights in 2018.
The Pleasant Valley Secondary School Grade 12 high jumper from Armstrong has committed to jump for the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver.
“I went to UBC to take a tour and really liked Laurier (head coach Primeau), as well as the school,” said Hansma, 17. “I also liked the fact it was fairly close to home, and I knew that would make the transition to university easier.”
Hansma won the silver medal at the B.C. High School Track and Field Championships this spring with a jump of 1.65 metres, just shy of her Okanagan Valley senior record of 1.70m, which she set in May. Hansma is also the Okanagan junior high jump record holder.
Ranked No. 3 in Canada in the National Youth rankings, Hansma won silver in the National Youth Championships in Brandon. She went to Winnipeg to compete for B.C. at the Canada Games and placed fourth. Hansma was also a member of the B.C. team that competed at the Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships in Ottawa, where she placed sixth.
Primeau was a coach with the B.C. team, so he got to know Hansma, and he’s excited by what she brings to the T-Birds.
“Part of my job is to know about the talent in the province,” said Primeau. “I’ve known of Trinity for about four years. I know her coach (Ian Cameron) very well. He has a great reputation in developing young talent. She’s one of many Ian has coached that’s gone on to high school and university success. He doesn’t burn them out.
“She’ll come right in at the NAIA and will vie for medals in her first year.”
Cameron has coached Hansma at PVSS since she was in Grade 8. He also guides her with the Vernon AAA Track and Field Club.
“Trinity is very coachable,” said Cameron. “She works hard and is a student of her sport. She understands her event really well and keeps trying to learn more about it.”
Hansma, who plans to take her bachelor of kinesiology, has already established her goals for her final high school year.
“I want to break my valley record and jump 175m,” she said. “I’d also like to compete for Team B.C. again on the junior team at nationals in Ottawa.”