A grade 9 student from Lloydminster broke a school record in high jump on May 21, during the city track and field finals being held at his home school, Lloydminster Comprehensive.

Ezra Schweiger set the new mark jumping over 167 cm’s and says the record was never really the point.

“It’s more about setting my personal best and just doing that from myself,” Schweiger said.

He trains a few times a week along with other track and field students and says one of the key things coaches have drilled into him is deceptively simple.

“Not looking at the bar is something we are told a lot to do,” he said. “And just constantly envisioning myself getting over it.”

Schweiger also plays basketball, which he says keeps his legs sharp year-round. High jump is a natural extension of what he already loves to do.

At districts, he was looking forward to something beyond the competition itself.

“I just want to see more athletes doing the event,” he said. “I watch everyone. I see what they’re doing, see if they’re doing anything new that I don’t, and try to learn.”

He is not ruling out a longer road in the sport.

“I would hope so,” Schweiger said, when asked whether track and field could lead somewhere. “I feel like I’m going to keep doing this until I can, or until something happens.”

Hundreds of students gathered for the event, some of them are featured in photos below.