During the 2012-2013 season, David McKay, York male athlete of the year, won both CIS and OUA gold in pole vault and was named a CIS first-team all-Canadian. The track and field star kept the good times rolling this summer, winning a gold medal at the Ontario championships, topped off with another gold medal at the Canada Summer Games. MacKay sat down with Excalibur to chat about his busy summer of competition, this upcoming school year, as well as his thoughts on the new CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Athletics Stadium being built on campus.
Excalibur: It sounds like you have had busy summer. Have you been able to find time to relax?
David MacKay: I’ve actually tried to limit myself to only competing at championship competitions this summer, just to have more time for quality training. On weekends when I’m free, my friend Chris will often invite me to his house in Cookstown where I can stay and hang out with him and his family, which is really nice.
E: What’s it like to not only compete at the Canada Summer Games, but to also win gold?
It was a fantastic feeling to win the gold medal at the games. I was representing Ontario, so it felt great to help contribute to the provincial team’s points. The best part about the competition was probably the number of spectators. Track meets are usually watched by just friends and family, but in Sherbrooke, there were a lot of spectators from the community, which made the competition a lot more fun and intense.
E: You are coming off a season where you were named York male athlete of the year. What goals have you set to try and raise the bar in 2013?
I’m going to raise the bar by raising the bar! This year will be about trying to jump higher in the hopes of reaching heights that will be competitive not just in Canada, but internationally.
E: One thing that boggles my mind is when students from western Canada come to York. How did you end up becoming a Lion?
Well, pole vault is a hard sport for universities to accommodate, and most of the schools out west don’t have indoor facilities. I knew I would have to move elsewhere for school. I chose York primarily because the pole vault coach Arye Rosenoer has an excellent reputation as a high-level pole vault coach. York was also a good fit for me academically, and I’m enjoying the environmental studies program and hope to attend law or business school afterwards.
E: Track events are as much about mental preperation as they are about physical preparation. Are you superstitious at all? Do you have any mental tricks to keep you focused?
For me, superstitions have always added an unnecessary variable that is not in my control. Having a lucky rock or ritual can be fun, but at the end of the day, I take full responsibility for my successes and more importantly, my failures. As far as mental preparation, I mainly try to keep relaxed and stay focused on what my goal is for the day.
E: What about flying five metres in the air appeals to you?
Well, I do like the fact that it’s different and a little bit dangerous. It is a very fun event to not only do, but to train for as well. We do gymnastics, sprinting, lifting, and jumping. It requires skills from many different disciplines, which is probably the most appealing part of pole vault.
E: What are your thoughts about the new stadium about the new Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletics Stadium being built at York?
I think the stadium will be great for all sports at York. Having a world-class stadium on campus will hopefully strengthen the sports community and get people to more events. I know the track team is excited about the possibility of having a locker room in the stadium. It will be a great place to train and competitions there would be lots of fun.
E: Ten years down the road, in a perfect world, what do you hope to be doing?
I would probably be done with athletics and in my first years of a career. I hope I’m not the only third-year student that hasn’t decided what exactly they want to do. I’m trying to keep doors open so I can find a career I will enjoy. If I never had to work because of success in pole vault that would be cool too!
Ryan McCabe
Sports and Health Editor
