Nine years after the Globe and Mail called Guelph the 'running capital of Canada,' there's a new track and field club in town hoping that one day it may be again.
The Royal City Athletics Club officially launched at the end of the summer and started its programming this week.
The club hopes to one day offer programs for all ages, but in these early days is focusing on high school and middle school athletes between the ages of 11 and 18, says club president Michael Sherar.
"It was about late August that some of in the community started the work to develop the club," Sherar said, adding that it was experienced runners in the community and a group of parents who were the driving force behind the club.
"We wanted to create a fresh start for track and field for the Guelph community, particularly looking at the opportunities for children – high school kids and younger," Sherar said.
"I think there was a need for a new club so we went about creating that and we hope it's a very positive start for a new club in Guelph."
The club is in the process of appointing a head coach and club manager. Indoor (at the Guelph Fieldhouse) and outdoor training sessions are underway, with COVID protocols in place.
Last winter the Guelph running community was devastated by reports of innapropriate behaviour toward an athlete by Dave Scott-Thomas, the Godfather of Guelph's competitive running scene who built a dynasty at the University of Guelph and created the Speed River Track and Field Club, attracting countless high-level athletes to the city.
That all came crashing down with the revelation that Scott-Thomas had, at the very least, an inappropriate and damaging relationship with former athlete Megan Brown. Scott-Thomas was fired by the U of G, banned by Athletics Canada and the Speed River club, which he founded and was the head coach, ceased operations last spring.
Sherar, whose daughter Zoe competes for the University of Guelph track team, said the new club has both a philosophy and the accompanying governance model to ensure that the club is transparent, respectful, positive and safe for all involved.
"All of the directors are committed to making sure that we have a safe and positive environment," he said. "We will have a club that is open and transparent with strong governance and accountability ... so that it's operated at the highest standards.
"That way I hope we gain the trust and confidence of parents and athletes and others in the community, that this is a club that is going to provide a very positive opportunity to enjoy training, competing and developing skills in track and field."
Sherar said "it's vital" that not only does the club operate to a high standard, but that people involved in the club and the community see that.
"Track and field can be a tremendously positive opportunity for young people. That need is there and we're committed to creating a club that has a very safe and positive environment for children and athletes so they can take advantage of the opportunity," Sherar said.
"We wanted to do it the right way, making sure we had strong governance in the club first and foremost, and then the work to set up the programming for the athletes."
For now the club is focusing on sprints and distance running, with plans down the road to offer the full gamut of track and field events.
More details about the club and contact information can be found here.