For Leah Pells, competing at the B.C. high school track and field provincial championships was an eye-opening experience.

Competing for Langley Secondary at the 1980 and 1981 championships, Pells didn鈥檛 find the podium, nor did she run particularly well.

鈥淚 remember I didn鈥檛 run well either year, so I was disappointed,鈥� she recalled.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I placed higher than eighth. But it was a great event.鈥�

Of course, her lack of podium finishes didn鈥檛 hamper as a middle distance runner and at one point was ranked No. 1 in the world.

鈥淚 always tell kids that if you don鈥檛 do well there, there is still lots of time,鈥� she said.

鈥淲hatever happens there, you can build on it and propel yourself forward.

鈥淚 always remind kids that this is just one experience of many that you are going to have.鈥�

Starting Thursday (June 1), 2,500 athletes will go for gold as McLeod Athletic Park hosts the 2017 B.C. high school track and field championships.

The meet runs until Saturday.

And to celebrate the meet鈥檚 50th year, former Canadian Olympic athletes, national team members and provincial high school champions, will be on hand throughout the meet to present medals in the various events.

The list of presenters is still being finalized, but will include shot putter Dylan Armstrong, who won bronze at the 2008 Games.

Andrew Lenton serves as the track and field commissioner for BC School Sports, and he says while the event itself has gotten bigger 鈥� more athletes competing and the ability to live stream events thanks to advances in technology, to name a couple 鈥� the meet remains a marquee event.

鈥淲hen I competed in high school, this was one event that was on the national landscape,鈥� he said.

Lenton won bronze in the 1500m in 1984 as a Grade 10 student.

鈥淭his is where you want to be at your best and I don鈥檛 think that has changed (over time).鈥�

For more on the championships, visit www.langleytimes.com.