Sandwich athlete winning races, setting records and in pursuit of provincial greatness
She's fast, she's focused and she's chasing history. Ella Steel-Douglas is running towards a legacy that would make her the most decorated high school track and field athlete in the history of OFSAA.
'It's exciting,' said the Grade 12 athlete. 'It gives me a constant goal and it's exciting to go after something that I know that I can achieve.'
According to Sandwich head track coach Rob Moore, Ella was beating older kids when she was in grade 6. 'When she got to Grade 8, we noticed more and when she got to Grade 9, it just, wow. I mean, four OFSAA golds in Grade 9. That was just phenomenal. No one has ever done that,' Moore told CTV News.
Steel-Douglas earned four provincial medals in Grade 10 and again last season pushing her total to 12. She has five events heading into the OFSAA West. If she qualifies for all five, she has a chance to end her high school career with 17 OFSAA medals.
According to OFSAA, 2-time Olympian Jessica Zelinka won 16 medals during her five-year high school career while 3-time Olympian Kevin Sullivan finished with 13.
'When I got here in Grade 9, I had no clue what the records were. I had no clue who held them or who she (Zelinka) was in particular,' Steel-Douglas said. 'Then as I kept getting four medals every year, that's when it (the record) kinda came in sight.
Ella's core four events are the hurdles, relay teams and long jump. This year, she added high jump to give her a chance at surpassing Zelinka. It's an event she's had to rediscover.
'When I was a kid, I did it,' said Steel-Douglas who has also jumped a couple of times during multi-events with her club team. 'I have a good foundation for it but actual practice, I don't really practice it all that much.
Yet she won both the local and regional titles this spring.
Steel-Douglas shares her achievements with teammates who have played a big role in her success. 'Having them beside me and having like-minded people in my corner, it helps me achieve those things.
Her goal is in sight, but first order of business is getting through the OFSAA West Regionals starting Friday in London.
'I'm just excited for not just this school but all of Essex-County because I see the athletes that are coming out of this area, and I think it's gonna be a good OFSAA for Windsor-Essex County kids if we can get them through,' Moore said.
The top 4 in each event advance to the OFSAA Championships at York University starting June 5th.
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