Jonah Lariviere helps Western relay team win gold, set national track record

Pictured from left to right are Ryan Johnson, Jonah Lariviere, Matteo Di Ciocco and Kirk Hallman. Lariviere, a St. Marys native, along with Johnson, Hallman and Di Ciocco, won a gold medal and set a new Canadian record in the 4x800-metre relay at the Ontario U20 Senior and Para Track and Field Championships July 10-12 at the University of Windsor.

By Spencer Seymour

St. Marys native Jonah Lariviere was part of the Western University’s 4x800-metre relay team that captured a gold medal at the Ontario U20 Senior and Para Track and Field Championships July 10-12 at the University of Windsor.

Lariviere, along with Ryan Johnson, Kirk Hallman and Matteo Di Ciocco, finished with a time of 7:40.12 in the U20 men’s 4x800-metre relay to capture the top prize and break the all-time record of 7:40.4, set by Mississauga TFC in 1981.

Lariviere explained the significance of writing their names in the record book to him and his teammates.

“It means so much to not just me, but to all the boys who went out and gave our very best on the track,” Lariviere told the Independent. “The previous record had stood for a long time, which just shows how much of an accomplishment our race was.”

According to Lariviere, their intense preparation for the race led the quartet to believe they had a chance to not just win, but to do so in record-breaking fashion.

“Ryan, Matteo, Kirk and I had been preparing for this race a few weeks before it happened. At first we just thought it would be cool to attempt the record, but as our individual fitness and talents became known leading up to the race, we became more confident. The race plan was to maintain a 1:55 average per runner, which was well within our capabilities so there wasn’t too much worry on that front. Our primary obstacle was the weather, which can be unpredictable, but it turned out perfect for us.

“The most important part of the race was honestly the mental preparation,” Lariviere continued. “The boys put so much into keeping our sights on the record and just maintaining a positive outlook for the performance, there was no chance it would go any other way. Teamwork plays a big part in relays, and we have that down to a science as we’ve been racing with and against one another for the past several years.”

According to Lariviere, who was the one to cross the finish line as the fourth and final member of the relay, he initially wasn’t sure how they did when he finished running, but soon enough, the results came in and brought a large wave of jubilation with them.

“I crossed the line and I was almost completely sure we had achieved our goal, but there was still some doubt in the back of my mind, so I didn’t get too excited in the moment,” said Lariviere. “My teammates, on the other hand, were standing right by the clock so they were ecstatic right away. They swarmed the track and we got a huddle going; everyone was so pumped. The feeling was unreal; it was almost too good to believe when I saw our final time. I felt satisfied and just an overwhelming pride and thanks for my teammates and coaches who helped to get us this far.”