Noah VanNeck turned a snub into success at the Legion national youth track and field championships.
After being left off Team Ontario, the 15-year-old Cedar Springs thrower won two gold medals and a silver last weekend in Calgary.
“It was quite disappointing finding out that I didn’t make that team,” he said, “but that just forced me to train harder and get the mindset that I was going to show them why I deserved to be on that team.”
Weeks earlier, he’d won two golds and a bronze at the Ontario Legion meet. But team leaders chose to not put any U16 male throwers on the provincial squad.
VanNeck represented the London Western Track and Field Club at nationals.
He won gold in the shot put (15.69 metres) and discus (52.45 m) and silver in the hammer (51.29 m).
“I threw pretty close to t