While Lyle Lo's high school track and field career at R.A. McMath Secondary School has come to an end, the recent graduate is looking forward to jumping to new lengths at the University of British Columbia and competing in the NAIA.
I caught up with Lo about how he got his start in athletics, his path to UBC and how the 2023 season went.
Personal Bests
Long Jump: 6.96m
Triple Jump: 14.61m
Career Accolades
2023 BC High School Long Jump Silver
2023 BC High School Triple Jump Silver
2023 BC High School 4x100m Gold
2023 U20 Canadian Nationals Long Jump Fourth Place
2023 U20 Canadian Nationals Triple Jump Fourth Place
Lo has been involved in sports ever since he can remember. Growing up he played basketball, soccer and he even practiced aikido.
"I didn't really enjoy basketball and only enjoyed the running aspect of soccer, as I'd just get the chance to sprint past everyone on the field, so in Grade 6 I decided to join track for the first time."
As the years went on, Lo continued to train and progress in track and field, involving himself in the sport as it was something he just truly enjoyed, but he also became heavily involved in volleyball too.
"In my early years of high school I never had any intention of doing track at a higher level than club or even medalling at big meets. That is just because I never came close to those achievements when I was younger and I was constantly battling with injuries. In Grade 9 I suffered a serious hamstring injury, in Grade 10 there was the pandemic and then in Grade 11 I juggled both track and volleyball, but I did overcome a sprained ankle to have success in both sports that year."
In 2022, during his volleyball season, Lo's team won club provincials and he was named an all-star in the process. On the field Lo also rounded into top form. At the BC High School Championship he placed fourth with a mark of 12.89m in the triple jump and placed sixth in the long jump with a mark of 6.21m.
"After the 2022 athletics season I was able to reflect on what I wanted to aim for during the 2023 season, which was to aim for medals. I became dedicated to improving, became more focused in the gym, and put more care into my practices. But again, I faced injury."