Nathan George tore up the track at the B.C. high school provincial championships earlier this month in Burnaby. Now, he's bolting clear to Langley -- and perhaps beyond, one day.
The Centennial Centaurs' sprint phenom scampered to top spot in the boys' 200 metres, which he also won in 2011, and the 400m before agreeing to join the Trinity Western Spartans university track and field team on scholarship starting next fall.
The sleek, five-foot-11 George is currently the top ranked junior-aged athlete in B.C. in both the 200m and 400m, with personal bests of 21.80 and 47.89 seconds respectively, and is ranked fourth in Canada in the 400m and fifth in the 200m.
Over the years competing with the Coquitlam Cheetahs, George has been a dominant sprinter and, in the process, has won numerous awards, including the club's Sprint award in 2011, Most Valuable Player in 2010, Outstanding Male Juvenile in 2010 andMost Improved Senior Male in 2009.
To boot, George also had the chance to represent Canada in 2011 at the IAAF World Youth Championships, where he competed in the 400m.
Now, TWU is his main primary focus.
"I chose Trinity Western because I felt the people there not only valued me as an athlete, but they also valued me as a student they would like to see succeed," said George, who plans to study human kinetics with a focus on sport and leisure management. "I feel that going to a smaller campus will help my transition from high school to university and will provide me with more personal support. I've heard nothing but good things about coach Laurier [Primeau] and Trinity Western's track program.
"It's a developing program and I'm excited to take part in contributing to its success."
Next fall, the Spartans will enter their third year back competing in the CIS after a six-year hiatus and Primeau believes George will give the team a huge boost out of the blocks.
"Nathan is one of the most talented high school athletes in the country," Primeau gushed. "Adding this quality of athlete to our roster can't be overstated. He is a truly gifted individual."
