Hebb, of Billtown, burst onto the provincial track and field scene in 2013, winning the intermediate boys’ triple jump at provincials and placing fifth in long jump.
At regionals that year, Hebb had set a new regional record of 12.31 metres in winning the triple jump.
His accomplishments drew the attention of Doug Mitchell, a coach with Chebucto Athletics, who told him about the Royal Canadian Legion national championships. Hebb made the legion team in 2013 as one of the final two selections and ended up placing fifth in triple jump.
“I also did long jump that year, too, but made it to Legions for the triple jump,” he said June 8, following the NKEC athletic awards evening, where he was named the school’s most valuable player for track and field.
More medals
In 2014, Hebb - by then competing in the senior division - added the hurdles and high jump to the long jump and triple jump and also ran the 100 metres.
At districts, he won the long jump, triple jump and hurdles and was second in high jump and third in the 100.
At regionals, he won the long jump and triple jump, was fifth in hurdles and sixth in both high jump and 100 metres. He qualified for provincials in both long jump and triple jump, and ended up winning both events.
When Chebucto Athletics handed out its year-end awards in December 2014, Hebb was co-winner as most improved male athlete.
Since joining the club, his citation read, Hebb “opened up to new challenges in multi events and has started to show tremendous promise, stuck with it and shown dedication translates into success.”
Hebb had qualified for Legions again in 2014, finishing fourth in triple jump and eighth in long jump and also running on the 4x100 relay team.
By the end of 2014, he was ranked first in Nova Scotia and sixth in Canada in triple jump, and second in Nova Scotia in long jump for his age group.
He has continued to train with Chebucto Athletics, a 70-minute drive each way to Sackville, every week for more than two years.
Playing the field
For the 2015 school track and field season, Hebb dropped the 100-metres and high jump, but added pole vault and 4x100 relay to the long and triple jump and hurdles.
At districts, he won long jump, triple jump and hurdles and was second in pole vault. He also helped the NKEC 4x100 team to a second-place finish.
At regionals, he won the long jump (with a new record of 6.58 metres) and triple jump, was second in hurdles and third overall in pole vault. The 4X100 team placed fourth, qualifying him for NSSAF provincials in a fifth event.
At provincials, Hebb won the triple jump, was second in long jump and pole vault and fourth in hurdles.
Asked if he has done any other school sports, Hebb replied, “No, just track and field. I’m passionate about it,” he said.
“There’s a lot of sportsmanship. Everyone is friendly, though competitive, and supportive, cheering each other on.”
As for his favourite event, it has to be the hurdles, due mainly to the excitement and spontaneity of the event, even though he is predominantly a jumper.
He also enjoys pole vault, which he “did for the first time this year.”
Looking ahead
Now 18, Hebb is too old for Legions, but says he is looking into potentially competing at the junior nationals. He is also doing the JumpStart Athletics throwing series this summer, in the hopes of competing in decathlon, which includes throwing events.
Hebb, who graduates from NKEC this month, plans to attend the University of Guelph starting this fall, to study biology. His passion for track and field will also be at the forefront, with Hebb planning to do track for Guelph as well.
“I’ll try to do as many events as I can,” he said. While the hurdles are his favourite, he says, “I’m probably strongest in triple jump and long jump.”
Academically, he is looking to study plant genetics in university, and eventually get into genetic research.
“That’s why I chose Guelph,” he says. “It’s the best plant science school in the country.”
While he has definitely enjoyed high school, Hebb says he is “pretty excited to go to Guelph. I’ll miss the people here, but I’m ready to move on.”
Hebb, of Billtown, burst onto the provincial track and field scene in 2013, winning the intermediate boys’ triple jump at provincials and placing fifth in long jump.
At regionals that year, Hebb had set a new regional record of 12.31 metres in winning the triple jump.
His accomplishments drew the attention of Doug Mitchell, a coach with Chebucto Athletics, who told him about the Royal Canadian Legion national championships. Hebb made the legion team in 2013 as one of the final two selections and ended up placing fifth in triple jump.
“I also did long jump that year, too, but made it to Legions for the triple jump,” he said June 8, following the NKEC athletic awards evening, where he was named the school’s most valuable player for track and field.
More medals
In 2014, Hebb - by then competing in the senior division - added the hurdles and high jump to the long jump and triple jump and also ran the 100 metres.
At districts, he won the long jump, triple jump and hurdles and was second in high jump and third in the 100.
At regionals, he won the long jump and triple jump, was fifth in hurdles and sixth in both high jump and 100 metres. He qualified for provincials in both long jump and triple jump, and ended up winning both events.
When Chebucto Athletics handed out its year-end awards in December 2014, Hebb was co-winner as most improved male athlete.
Since joining the club, his citation read, Hebb “opened up to new challenges in multi events and has started to show tremendous promise, stuck with it and shown dedication translates into success.”
Hebb had qualified for Legions again in 2014, finishing fourth in triple jump and eighth in long jump and also running on the 4x100 relay team.
By the end of 2014, he was ranked first in Nova Scotia and sixth in Canada in triple jump, and second in Nova Scotia in long jump for his age group.
He has continued to train with Chebucto Athletics, a 70-minute drive each way to Sackville, every week for more than two years.
Playing the field
For the 2015 school track and field season, Hebb dropped the 100-metres and high jump, but added pole vault and 4x100 relay to the long and triple jump and hurdles.
At districts, he won long jump, triple jump and hurdles and was second in pole vault. He also helped the NKEC 4x100 team to a second-place finish.
At regionals, he won the long jump (with a new record of 6.58 metres) and triple jump, was second in hurdles and third overall in pole vault. The 4X100 team placed fourth, qualifying him for NSSAF provincials in a fifth event.
At provincials, Hebb won the triple jump, was second in long jump and pole vault and fourth in hurdles.
Asked if he has done any other school sports, Hebb replied, “No, just track and field. I’m passionate about it,” he said.
“There’s a lot of sportsmanship. Everyone is friendly, though competitive, and supportive, cheering each other on.”
As for his favourite event, it has to be the hurdles, due mainly to the excitement and spontaneity of the event, even though he is predominantly a jumper.
He also enjoys pole vault, which he “did for the first time this year.”
Looking ahead
Now 18, Hebb is too old for Legions, but says he is looking into potentially competing at the junior nationals. He is also doing the JumpStart Athletics throwing series this summer, in the hopes of competing in decathlon, which includes throwing events.
Hebb, who graduates from NKEC this month, plans to attend the University of Guelph starting this fall, to study biology. His passion for track and field will also be at the forefront, with Hebb planning to do track for Guelph as well.
“I’ll try to do as many events as I can,” he said. While the hurdles are his favourite, he says, “I’m probably strongest in triple jump and long jump.”
Academically, he is looking to study plant genetics in university, and eventually get into genetic research.
“That’s why I chose Guelph,” he says. “It’s the best plant science school in the country.”
While he has definitely enjoyed high school, Hebb says he is “pretty excited to go to Guelph. I’ll miss the people here, but I’m ready to move on.”
