While Elise Drake's high school athletics career at Kelowna Secondary will be coming to an end after the 2024 outdoor season, the star thrower has much to look forward to as she will be heading to the University of Hawaii in the fall, where she will become a Rainbow Wāhine and compete in the NCAA Division I. I caught up with Drake about how she got her start in throwing, her journey to UH and what she hopes to achieve in her senior year.
Personal Bests
4kg Hammer: 49.94m
3kg Hammer: 52.91m
4kg Shot Put: 11.41m
16lb Weight Throw: 16.55m
Career Accolades
2023 BCHS Senior Girls Hammer Throw Champion
2023 Oregon Relays Silver
2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals Bronze
2023 Team BC
2022 Legion U18 Silver
8-time Provincial Club Champion
2019 International Children's Games Top 10 Finish
Drake started track and field at a young age and discovered her passion for the sport shortly after.
"I was nine when I started and found my love for throwing after I competed in my very first elementary school meet. I was encouraged to join the Junior Development program at my local track club, but after having a short meeting with the head coach of the club, she decided I could train with the Senior/Masters throws group. That is where my love for the sport grew."This passion for athletics only continued to flourish as Drake progressed through both club and high school track and field, accumulating valuable experience in both training and competitive settings along the way.
"I've really grown and developed as an athlete these past couple of years. Grade 10 was my first year competing at the BCHS Track and Field Championships. The meet didn't go quite the way I wanted. I placed second in the Junior Girls Hammer by only two centimeters. I only let this fuel my fire and fast forward to last year, I did exactly that, I took home the Senior Girls Hammer title and this year my goal remains the same - to hold onto my title."
2023 was also filled with success for Drake across the border. She competed at the Oregon Relays, one of the most prestigious high school track meets in the Pacific NorthWest, where she threw a mark of 46.17m in the hammer to place second. She also competed at the Nike Outdoor Nationals where she threw a mark of 49.28m.