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Track and Field

U9 Future Stars Program – Fall 2026

Program Focus: Joy of Movement, Foundational Skills & Sport Discovery

Our U10 program is designed to ignite a passion for track and field. We believe that at this age, the best way to learn is through play. In a high-energy, game-based atmosphere, our coaches introduce the fundamentals of:

  • The Sprint: Developing a powerful “piston” or “cyclical” stride.
  • The Flight: Learning the basics of jumping into our jumping mats.
  • The Clearance: Fun and safe introductions to rhythmic hurdling.

Why Join? We don’t just “run laps.” We build “Physical Literacy.” Your child will develop the coordination and confidence that will serve them in every sport they ever play.

Dates & Times:

  • Sundays – 10:30 am to 11:30 am
  • Nov 1st to Feb 21st
    • No sessions Dec 20th through Jan 3rd
    • No session Feb 14th due to Family Day Holiday

Division Ages

  • U10  is for birth years 2018, 2019, and 2020 (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

Cost:

  • $105, Includes Entry Fees for all 3 Lakehead Home Track Meets (Nov 8, Jan 9, and Feb 13)

Register online or at our Front Desk, starting on Aug 20th at 9:00 am!

For assistance with registration, please visit our How-To page.

Track & Field U12/U14 Development Program – Fall 2026

Program Focus: Technical Foundations, Multi-Event Discovery & Skill Mastery

This program is the perfect entry point for kids new to the sport, as well as those looking to refine their competitive edge. We bridge the gap between “play” and “performance” by providing a supportive environment where athletes can discover their favorite events while building an athletic “engine.”

  • Sprinting & Relays: We introduce the mechanics of the block start and the teamwork required for high-speed baton exchanges for relay events.
  • Hurdling & Jumping: Athletes get hands-on experience with standard hurdles and jumping mats, learning advanced mechanics through safe, step-by-step progressions.
  • Integrated Endurance: We build “the tank” through fun, varied distance training that ensures athletes are fit, fast, and resilient across all events.
  • The Collegiate Edge: By training alongside record-holding collegiate athletes, kids see firsthand what’s possible while receiving elite-level foundational coaching in Thunder Bay.

The Goal: To help every athlete find their “event” while building the technical base required for long-term success in track or any other high-level sport.

Dates & Times:

  • Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Nov 3 through Feb 23
  • No session Dec 22 through 31st (inclusive)

Division Ages

  • U12 – for birth years 2015, 2016, and 2017 (Grades 4, 5, and 6)
  • U14 – for birth years 2013 & 2014 (Grade 7 & 8)

Registration Options & Cost

  • Tuesdays & Thursdays – $250
  • Single Day Registration Only – $140
  • All registrations include:
    • Lakehead Track & Field T-Shirt
    • Entry Fees for Provincial Championships
    • Entry Fees for LU Home Meets (Nov 8th, Jan 9th, and Feb 13th)

Register online or at our Front Desk, starting on Aug 20th at 9:00 am!

For assistance with registration, please visit our How-To page.

Youth Cross Country Program – Fall 2026

Our fall program is built to develop an athletic fitness base and prepare athletes to excel at their local and regional cross-country championships.

Program Focus & Features

  • Targeted Aerobic Development: Workouts build endurance using a progressive mix of tempo pacing, interval training, hill repeats, and intensive tempo runs.
  • Gamified Training & Engagement: Sessions integrate competitive game-models and team-based training structures to keep distance running engaging, dynamic, and fun.
  • Injury Prevention & Mobility: Sessions incorporate targeted routines to proactively manage common running issues like shin splints while expanding mobility to boost athleticism.
  • Prime Training Hub: All sessions are hosted out of Lakehead University, with athletes meeting inside The Hangar before taking advantage of the surrounding grass loops and facilities.

Led by an experienced coach and former collegiate athlete, our program adheres to Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) principles and structured periodization. This ensures training volume, intensity, and peak cycles are fully age-appropriate and maximize performance on race day while protecting long-term athlete health.

Our staff is fully SafeSport certified and committed to maintaining a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. We will work to teach hard work and discipline through a fun and engaging Cross-Country running program.

Note to Parents: No prior running or cross-country experience is necessary—our program welcomes athletes of all skill levels, with progressive training designed to build endurance, skill, and confidence from day one.

Dates & Times:

  • Mondays, Wednesdays (Sep 9-23 Only), & Saturdays – Sep 9th to Oct 26th
    • Monday – 4:15 pm to 5:45 pm (No session Oct 12 for thanksgiving)
    • Wednesday (Sep 9, 16, and 23 only – no Wednesday sessions Sep 30 onwards) – 4:15 pm to 5:45 pm
    • Saturday – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Ages

  • For athletes in U14 through U20 – Birth years 2009 through 2014 (Grade 7 through 12)

Registration Fee

  • $140, include a Lakehead XC T-shirt

Register online or at our Front Desk, starting on Aug 20th at 9:00 am!

For assistance with registration, please visit our How-To page.

High School Track & Field Program

Our program introduces high school athletes to event-specific training, preparing them for local and provincial competition through structured, age-appropriate development.

Event Groups Offered

  • Sprints: Acceleration, max speed, and mechanics.
  • Hurdles: Rhythm, technique, and clearance efficiency.
  • Jumps: Approach and takeoff mechanics for Long, Triple & High Jump.
  • Relays: Baton exchanges, zone execution, and team chemistry.
  • Distance: Aerobic capacity, race tactics, and pacing.

Led by coaches with over 6 years of collegiate Track & Field experience, our programming strictly follows Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) models. We deliver age-appropriate training designed to improve performance, prevent injuries, and build joy for sport.

All coaches are SafeSport certified and dedicated to creating a safe, fun, and inclusive environment. We instill hard work, discipline, and sportsmanship in our athletes, helping them reach their full potential on and off the track.

No experience is required, we welcome athletes of all abilities and training backgrounds, providing a progressive step-by-step approach from day one.

Dates & Times:

  • Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays – October 22nd through February 23rd (No Sessions Dec 24th to Jan 2nd, or Feb 13th)
    • Tuesdays/Thursdays – 4:15 pm to 6:00 pm
    • Saturdays – 12:30 pm to 2:15 pm
    • Nov 8th, Jan 9th, and Feb 13th will be Track Meet dates instead of sessions. Further information about this will be supplied closer to the Track meet dates.

Division Ages

  • U16 – Grade 9 (Birth Year 2012)
  • U18 – Grade 10/11 (Birth Years 2010/2011)
  • U20 – Grade 12 (Birth Years 2008/2009)

Registration Options & Costs:

  • $500 for Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays
  • $400 for Tuesdays & Thursdays
  • ALL registrations include:
    • Lakehead Track T-Shirt
    • Lakehead Track Competition Singlet
    • Entry Fees for the 3 Lakehead Home Track Meets (Nov 8, Jan 9th, Feb 13th)
    • Entry Fees to the Provincial Champions

Register online or at our Front Desk, starting on Aug 20th at 9:00 am!

For assistance with registration, please visit our How-To page.

Registration Instructions

  1. Navigate to our registration portal at: https://luathletics.lakeheadu.ca/
  2. Log in to your account by clicking “Sign In” at the top right of our registration portal. Be sure to use the main username/email box to sign in,  unless you are a lakehead faculty, student, or staff. If you are a current lakehead faculty, student, or staff with a MyInfo login, please select “click here for Lakehead User login” and use those credentials.
    1. For first time users, hit “sign up” at the bottom of the pop up box. Please create your user account using the parents information. Do not create the account in your child’s name.
    2. If you do not remember your username or password, you can hit “trouble logging in” to get your username sent to you or request a password reset email. You can also email athleticsfrontdesk@lakeheadu.ca or activeu@lakeheadu.ca for account access support
  3. Navigate to your program of choice by going to Program Registration, selecting the classification “Youth Programs”, and then selecting the correct “Semester”. You can narrow your search further by “Category” if desired (ActiveU, Basketball, etc.)
  4. Select your desired program.
  5. Click “Register” next to the offering you are wanting to register for. Then, click “register” next to your child’s name. If your child is not there, click “add a family member” to create their profile
    1. If the register button is missing, it is likely that you or your child are missing a birthday on your profile! You can edit or add birthdays by hitting your username in the top right corner of the page. You’ll need to change the ‘Viewing As’ person to the individual whose birthday you are trying to change, and then can hit the edit button.
  6. Complete the camp registration steps
    1. For the waiver page, be sure to click on the grey box and then sign in the white pop up box
    2. For the custom prompts, make sure you have selected a response for all required questions
  7. Check out
  8. You will receive a confirmation email if registration has been completed correctly.