Woodstock track star kicking off training sessions for young athletes

Woodstock's Alex Harmer is attending university in Detroit where she competes as a hurdler on the school's track and field team. Now, the athlete has decided to give back by offering training for young athletes. (Contributed Photo)

Lee Griffi, Editor

Alex Harmer didn’t plan on embarking on a track career early in her high school days at Huron Park Secondary School, but after medalling at the Ontario championships, she decided it might be a good idea.

The 20-year-old Woodstock native is entering her junior year at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, on her way to a degree in nursing. This summer, Harmer wants to give back by offering training sessions for young athletes.

Next Level Kids Training will offer sessions at Huron Park designed to build strength, speed, co-ordination, and confidence for children aged 7 to 13, beginning on July 7. Kids can sign up for all 7 weeks for $250 or 4 weeks for $160.

“I did track and field just for fun throughout elementary school. Then I started taking it a bit more seriously from grade 8 onward. Once I got to high school, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to even do something with track because I was also playing soccer at the time,” said Harmer.

Then something happened – she got really good.

“During my grade 10 year, I went double silver at OFSAA, and that’s when I thought, okay, this is my thing. This is what I want to do after high school.”

She earned the second-place finishes in the 80 and 300 metre hurdles, something that caught the eye of recruiters south of the border. Harmer said the process was slow at first while she was with an agency, and at the time, she had her sights set on remaining in Canada.

“I was a little scared to venture out. But at the beginning of grade 12, I got an e-mail from Coach (Nathaniel) Miller at Wayne State. He invited me on an unofficial visit and then an official one, and I fell in love with the school. It was a good experience learning about all the different schools, programs and coaches. But in the end, Wayne State was the one for me.”

The level of competition is extremely high in the United States, the top country in the world when it comes to producing track and field athletes. Harmer said it's been humbling.

“It just reminds you that you just got to keep practicing and working hard and staying dedicated to your craft because there's always going to be someone there to push you. My first year was really rough for me. Moving to a new country and being a freshman was a little difficult.”

To make matters worse, she suffered an injury in her freshman year but is back on track.

“That was just not ideal, but I will say, after finally finishing a full year of running in my sophomore year, it's pretty rewarding, honestly. You feel a lot of emotions for sure. I have this saying: you've got to do the hard things to get to the good things. And that is one quote that really gets me through those hard days. It's rewarding and humbling at the same time.”

Harmer explained she thought the time was right to give back to the Woodstock community and help develop the next generation of local athletes.

“I have had so many years of gaining knowledge and experience and expertise in running and jumping and strength and speed, everything that I want to offer and I want to give back. I want to provide kids with an opportunity to learn those foundational skills regardless of what their sport is. And that's what I really want to emphasize because, yes, I am a track and field athlete, but running, jumping, endurance and agility is needed for so many different sports.”

Harmer said she has had some interest to the training sessions to date but is aware there are many options for parents in the city.

“Obviously, it's a little difficult. I'm young, and there are so many different summer sports going on already, and it's difficult to advertise a little business like this, but I'm hoping to get more kids to join. I have an Instagram page that I post on all the time to try and spread the word. I have a flyer up, and I'm trying to get it out to schools as well.”

She can be contacted through her Instagram page at @nextlevel.alex or by email at alexhm5@icloud.com. There are two sessions available, one from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the other from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.