Centennial, Legion coach got track project on track, p. 2

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Belleville Sports Hall of Fame in support of Faulds' induction, for- mer CSS student and Faulds- coached runner Rob Juricevic says "those of us lucky enough to befriend Bruce were inspired to run." "Mr. Faulds realized how impor- tant it is for a coach to get to know his athletes on a personal level," says Chad Gilbert, a member of the 1991 CSS cross-country team. "He quickly became a close friend of mine and the rest of the athletes on the teams he coached. Through his coaching he taught me to become disciplined as an athlete in all other areas of my life. "I consider him responsible for many successes in my lite other than just on the track." Not surprisingly, Faulds deflects such praise back to his former ath- letes. "Great athletes make great coaches," he says. Meanwhile, as his Centennial and Legion Track Club teams enjoyed consistent success and started sending athletes to higher levels of competition, Faulds con- tinued to harbour a dream. A big dream. An expensive dream. Faulds realized the city sorely needed a proper track complex. And, accustomed to running long distances himself, Faulds embarked on a marathon of a dif- ferent sort -- rallying support, both moral and financial, to build an international-calibre, specially- surfaced track and accompanying athletic field. "You can train anywhere but you're going to get a lot more kids and better training with a proper facility," says Faulds. "Unfortu- nately, it took me a working life- time to find the right people to push the right buttons and get it done. "I sold the Legion guys on the OFSAA where you're not exactly idea and they ran with it. Five or passing guys dying in the streets." six years later, they were breaking Faulds also treasures memories ground for the new track." of coaching his sons -- Allan, Scott Today, Faulds enjoys his retire- and Michael -- when they attended ment with his wife, Diana, near his Centennial and, naturally, followed boyhood home of Forest (north of their father's footsteps by running London). He golfs a lot and offici- track and cross-country. ates high school and OBA club bas- All three boys won medals at the ketball games in the London area. National Legion finals and Scott "I did 89 games last year," he still holds the under-15 boys record says. for the 3,000 metres (8:47). He's not coaching track any- "Yes, being able to coach my more, but it's a good bet Faulds kids was a highlight," says Faulds. would be spending plenty of time While Faulds' knowledge and at M.A. Sills Park had he and tactics made him a top notch Diana remained in Belleville, coach, it was his ability to moti- "I can actually retire here," he vate that was perhaps his greatest quips. "That's a bonus for Diana skill. and I." In a letter written to the Ceremonies start 1 p.m. Sunday.

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