This mentality and team-oriented mindset especially came into play this past season. A day before the Sea to Sky Zone Championships, a top runner on the senior girls team was rushed to hospital with a burst appendix. She was released from hospital in time to support her team at the BC High School XC Provincial Championships, even though she was unable to take part in the race. The senior girls ended up winning the AAA title with four of their runners placing in the top 15. Maggie Cormack, Brooke Hemstead, Elia Comeau and Kate Martin all broke the 20 minute barrier over the 5km course.
"The first thing our athletes are concerned about is how they did as a team and seeing all the hard work they put in was special, particularly as there was so much motivation. One of the senior girls who was part of the banner winning team is also on the field hockey team. She wanted double banners since that was something she also accomplished in 2022. Another senior girl, who was third at all league meets, had to get her appendix removed. For a lot of teams if you take away one of their best runners they panic, but for us we didn't, we wanted to win the banner for her. Seeing the team rally around her, for someone who would have loved to be running was amazing. Everyone was celebrating, not only the seven athletes who were on that team."
Cormack was the top finisher for Handsworth, placing eighth in a time of 19:19.90. No other team had a second runner across the line before Handswoth's fourth runner. As for the junior boys, they placed third in a close finish between W.L Seaton Secondary and MEI.
"At the beginning of the season we laid out the goal that we wanted all four divisions to qualify for the provincial championship. By laying the groundwork we try and get everyone to contribute towards that team's success. You can't win with just two athletes, you need four to score, seven athletes on that championship team, some are used to displace. We want to make everyone feel like they are a small part of winning that banner and getting those accolades and we do this by trying to keep everyone together which is great for training. Then each week we step it up. We want to be 100% at provincials and you can't ride that for so long. There is a new focus each week, for example learning to adapt. If you fail one week that does not mean you will fail the next."
Now with 2023 almost coming to an end and 2024 just around the corner there is of course more training to be done and more goals to be set.
"It is important to set big goals and if you come short maybe you will be happier than setting smaller goals to begin with. Growing the team would be a huge goal, getting more athletes involved. Of course it is great to chase a banner but it is also great to see a group of kids out being active and together, just bonding and learning. Looking back at my own time in high school, I won races, but what I recall the most is the fun I had and the friendships I made. Those memories are the ones that meant most to me and long gone are the results I had."
Melcher has clearly set out to make a lasting impact on his athletes, introducing them to a world of running, a world which gave him so much and continues to do so.
"Whether athletes are at the front or back of the pack, or continue past high school, whether it is just for fun or to run competitively, I would like to see more people being involved and I would love to see that passion continue for being part of a team. There are athletes who graduated four, five years ago that are still running and seeing them be good ambassadors as they leave high school and go to university or work life is great. Having work ethic and team ethic and carrying that into a career once they leave Handsworth is something I want for all my athletes."