(Halifax, N.S.) - Dalhousie University track and field head coach Rich Lehman is pleased to announce the commitment of jumpers Kaelan Schmidt and Dennie d’Entremont to the Tigers lineup for the 2016-17 season.
A 5’10 jumper, Kaelan Schmidt comes to the Tigers after very successful high school and club track and field seasons.
A recent graduate of North Nova Educational Centre, Schmidt claimed four gold, three silver and one bronze at Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) provincial championships in the last three years, including two gold (high jump and triple jump) and a silver (long jump) this past season. He is also the current NSSAF record holder in the junior boys triple jump.
As a member of the Pictou County Athletics club, Schmidt has multiple provincial and atlantic athletic titles, including gold medal sweep in the high jump, long jump and triple jump events at the Nova Scotia Athletics Provincial Championships last weekend. He is the current record holder in the midget boys triple jump.
Schmidt has been a member of the Nova Scotia/Nunavut Legion team that competes at the Royal Canadian Legion Youth track and field championships. He had a gold-medal high jump performance at the 2013 championships in Langley, B.C., in addition to earning silver in the triple jump. At the 2014 championships (also in Langley, B.C.) he claimed bronze in the youth boys high jump event.
“Kaelan boasts rare athletic talent and exceptional leadership ability,” says jumps coach and CIS gold medal jumper, Simon Watts. “We are fortunate to have him commit to Dalhousie.”
A native of Sutherlands River, N.S., Schmidt is the recipient of an entrance scholarship and is enrolled in Dalhousie’s Nursing program.
“I am extremely excited to start this new part of my life and train with some of the best coaches in the country,” says Schmidt. “I look forward to working with such high caliber coaches to take my track and field career to a whole new level.”
Another 5’10 jumper, Dennie d’Entremont joins the Tigers after a successful club and high school high jump career.
A member of the South West Nova Track and Field Club since 2015, d’Entremont placed third in the men’s 16-17 high jump at both the Nova Scotia and Atlantic club championships last summer. He was also a member of the 2015 Nova Scotia/Nunavut Legion team that participated in the 2015 Royal Canadian Legion Track and Field Championships.
Competing for the École secondaire de Par-en-Bas, d’Entremont placed second in the high jump at the 2016 NSSAF provincial championships last month. A three-year member of their track team, he also competed in basketball, volleyball, softball and badminton and was their male athlete of the year in 2014. He also received the grade 11 sports award in 2015.
“Dennie is young in his athletic career but shows lots of promise,” says Watts. “I believe he has enormous untapped potential and will encounter lots of success during his varsity career.”
Originally from Lower West Pubnico, N.S., d’Entremont is enrolled in Dalhousie’s Kinesiology program.
“I am very excited to be joining the Dalhousie Tigers track team,” says d’Entremont. “Wearing the black and gold has always been a goal for me and I look forward to competing with some of the best athletes in Canada.”
“Kaelan and Dennie are two of the top age class high jumpers in Atlantic Canada,” says Lehman. “Both of them have the ability to contribute significantly at both the AUS and CIS level. I'm excited to watch them work with Simon Watts who has a proven ability to guide high jumpers to national medals.”
Both Schmidt and d’Entremont were recently named to the 2016 Athletics Nova Scotia U22 Espoirs track and field team, along with 11 current Tigers, that will compete in Moncton August 6-7, 2016.