Senior Nathan Canada clocked in a personal best of 15:56 seconds in high hurdles, landing him on the podium for a 6th place medal at the IHSA 1A State Track and Field Meet. Canada has been a dominant fixture on Timothy’s track team throughout his high school career. This season alone he ran State qualifying time in the 110m hurdles weeks before the State track meet. He was just shy of the State qualifying mark for the 300m hurdles at the 13-team Houseward Invitational in Michigan in mid-April. He continued to improve, getting PR’s, by changing his step patterns and strides, week after week. By the time Sectionals rolled around in May, he managed to qualify for State in the 300m hurdles as well.

Even though he ran his personal best in the 300m hurdles at State (crossing the finish line at 40:91), it wasn’t enough to get on the podium at the ultra-competitive Class 1A IHSA State Track and Field Meet at Eastern Illinois University.

Nathan has permanently left his mark on the Timothy Christian High School track and field team. He was voted team captain for two years in a row by his teammates. In fact, he was the team’s biggest cheerleader at the State meet. Timothy’s 4x800 meter relay (Tyce Plaisier, Gio Molina, Rich Meszaros, and Noah Laslo) ran a personal best of 8:41.57. Tyce Plaisier competed in the 800 meter, running a personal best of 2:05.88, and Noah Laslo competed in the 1600 meter, clocking a personal best of 4:38.58. 

Nathan’s times are indeed impressive and his natural talent to clear the hurdles (as if they aren’t even in the lane) is astounding. But what he will be remembered for most was how he led his teammates with integrity. 

“Nathan has a very high track IQ,” Coach John Vander Kamp (‘75) said. “He could run any event. He’s an extraordinary athlete. He has an uncanny ability to focus on what’s important. But when I look at his character, as a Christian as a friend, those are the things that stand out to me.” 

Nathan was recently awarded the Joseph P. Blades Scholarship at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Only six students are awarded this full tuition scholarship and must demonstrate spiritual, academic, and community leadership. As a recipient of this prestigious scholarship, Nathan will have the opportunity to be involved in building and maintaining a diverse, passionate, and involved community within Taylor University. Nate intends to pursue a degree in either studio art or graphic design while also minoring in marketing or psychology.