60+ years of excellence & achievement

Jackson King, a grade 11 student at Marion Graham Collegiate, is RIVA’s profiled athlete.

Jackson’s top performances of the past year are 9th place at Indoor Nationals this past March in the 60m, and 19th in the 200m. Another memorable meet for Jackson was the Kinsmen Indoor Championships where he ran the same time (his PB) in prelims and finals. His goal for the upcoming outdoor season is to improve as much as possible and make Legion standard to go to Outdoor Nationals! Jackson also hopes to make top 2 at High School Cities to qualify for Provincials.

Jackson started training with Riversdale in the fall of 2022 and competed in the 60m, 100m, 200m, and occasionally 300m. His favourite event is the 200m because it requires a lot of dedication and grit to make it through to the finish line. “I love Riversdale because of how it feels like a family. You don’t have to worry about anything when you’re part of it. If you aren’t feeling great after a race, there is always someone there to lift you up, whether it’s a coach or a fellow athlete.”

Outside of track, Jackson has a variety of hobbies including playing on the school basketball and volleyball teams, as well as the track team in the spring. When he’s not busy with sports, he can be found working out or working on his next video project. During school, it’s difficult to be creative but when he has time, he loves creating videos, whether it is a sports edit or a cooking video for his cooking YouTube channel.

RIVA’s profiled athlete for this month is Aubrey Cherneski-Smith, one of our amazing Jr Dev athletes.

Aubrey first started out in track after trying various spring and summer camps and chose Riversdale! She started her journey when she was 8 years old and has been with Riversdale for 4 years.

Aubrey’s top performance in 2023 was her 600m race in Regina in December. She took 8 seconds off her personal best! Her goals for 2024 are to continue meeting and beating her PB’s.

Track & Field/Cross Country take up most of her time, but Aubrey also participates in all the school-based track programs like the elementary relays. She has shown interest in volleyball and badminton. When she isn’t busy playing organized sports, you can find her at the lake or out on the slopes skiing.

Can’t wait to see what the future holds for this talented young athlete!

Katie, a dedicated athlete, achieved notable success during the 2023 outdoor season, securing 1st in the 1500m and 3000m, and 3rd in the 800m. At SHSAA Provincials, she emerged as the junior girls aggregate winner. In Legion Nationals, Katie impressed with a 9th place in the 3000m and 12th in the 1500m.

In cross country, she excelled, claiming 2nd at SHSAA XC provincials, 3rd at ACXC provincials, and an impressive 14th at ACXC Nationals in Ottawa.

Looking ahead, Katie aims to improve her personal bests and rankings at the provincial and national levels. She values the coaching and camaraderie at RIVA and is eager to learn more from coaches and athletes.

Beyond athletics, Katie cherishes time with family, works, and volunteers at the local hospital. RIVA is delighted to have Katie as part of our track family!

Adrianna Schmidt, a Grade 9 student at VCA. She recently joined Riversdale and made an immediate impact, winning 1st in high jump at the Saskatchewan Club Provincials. She also competed in hurdles and high jump at Youth Nationals, placing 9th in high jump. Adrianna aims to improve her hurdle time and refine her form and technique this season. Off the track, she enjoys school and club volleyball, as well as wake surfing in summer. She appreciates the coaching and atmosphere at Riversdale and is eager for the upcoming season. Good luck, Adrianna!

Yero, born in 2007 and entering his senior year at Holy Cross, had a remarkable 2022. He swept the high school and club cross country cities and provincials, and dominated the spring track season by winning the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m in both events.

Nathanial, a Grade 12 student at Aden Bowman, joined Riversdale in 2019. A mentor to younger athletes, he had a stellar 2022 season, winning the U18 Saskatchewan 1500m and placing 3rd at national indoor events. His 2023 goals include competing in larger meets and targeting his first U20 win. Off the track, he enjoys outdoor sports and plans to continue running wherever life takes him.

Naysa, a Grade 10 at Centennial Collegiate, joined Riversdale in 2022. She excelled in 2023, winning gold in 800m, 1500m, and 3000m at city events and placing at provincials. At Youth Nationals, she ranked 9th in 2km and 13th in 1200m. Her upcoming goals include continuous improvement and team support. Off-track, she enjoys volleyball and travel. She credits her coaches for her achievements and aims to inspire younger athletes. Good luck this season, Naysa!

Seth, a grade 12 student in Saskatoon, has been with Riversdale for 6 years. Initially focused on mid-distance and cross-country, he's now honing his sprints and high jump. He recently placed 5th in the Men's Open 200m at the K of C Games.