"A good coach can change a race, but a great coach can change a life."
DARL SUTHERLAND
HEAD COACH
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Darl Sutherland has over 20 years of coaching experience. His experiences are fueled by his athletic experience on the race scene.
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Darl Sutherland is a Level 3 in training Certified Endurance Coach with certifications in:
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Safety Workshops on High Risk Events
Coach Initiation in Sport
Coaching Athletes with a Disability
Making Head Way in Sport (concussion protocols)
Developing Athletic Abilities
Coaching Athletes with Down syndrome
Diversity and Inclusion in Action
Leading Drug-free Sport
Make Ethical Decisions
Managing Conflict
NCCP Emergency Action Plan eLearning
Safe Sport Training
Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders
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Darl Sutherland has coached several provincial champions, national champions and medalists, OFSAA medalists, and team Championships.
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As an athlete Darl Sutherland was nationally ranked in the 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, full marathon, and ultra marathon. He was ranked in the top 20 on several occasions in Canada.
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Some highlights include:
OCAA Provincial X-C Champion individual and team
2X OCAA Silver Medalist
2X CCAA National Bronze Medalist individual
Winner of over 130 races
2006 Mississauga Marathon winner
2007 PEC Marathon Winner
2012 Amhertzberg Marathon Winner
Comrades Ultra Marathon (South Africa)
2013 inducted into OCAA Hall of Fame
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WENDY JONES
ASSISTANT COACH
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Wendy is thrilled to be joining the Lighting Team as an assistant coach. Her kinesiology expertise and her love of running make her a welcome addition. Wendy has coached track and cross country for over 20 years in the community and has coached with the Peterborough Pirates Triathlon Club for the past 5 years. Mentoring these athletes to achieve their personal goals is at the heart of Wendy’s coaching philosophy.
Since joining Kawartha Lakes Lightning Wendy has been instrumental in our team's success. Our team has experienced growth and success in large part due to Wendy's positive role-modeling and strength based coaching. We are truly lucky to have Wendy as part of our club.
Highlights of Wendy’s competitive racing career:
Ø Winner of many age group races for 5 km to Half Marathon.
Ø 2013 National Triathlon Age Group Champion Sprint Distance.
Ø 9th place at The World Triathlon Championship (1st Canadian Female).
Ø Multiple qualifier and competitor in The Boston and New York Marathons.
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Abe Draycott
Sprinting Coach
Abe Draycott Sprint Coach Abe Draycott is a speed/power specialist whose expertise includes sprint technique, speed endurance, and plyometrics. Abe has worked with athletes from many different sport disciplines and uses speed/power training to increase coordination, reaction time, and speed/strength. Athletics training is not only for those wishing to excel in track and field but, is the core fundamental principle for all high intensity sports such as football, rugby, lacrosse, hockey, and baseball. The Kawartha Lakes Lightning Sprints Program focuses on progressions and consistency to increase the strength and fitness level of athletes throughout the year, while avoiding over training and injuries. Offseason, preseason, and competitive season training programs ensure that athletes continue to develop their general level of fitness, compete at their full potential, and peak at the correct time during the competitive season. Training programs can be personalized to focus on an athlete’s individual fitness level and sport discipline. Abe competed at the varsity level for the University of Guelph in sprints and horizontal jumps, competing at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Championships 3 out of 4 years, his best result was qualifying for a CIS Long Jump Final placing 8th. In high school Abe competed at OFSAA each year in track and field in the 200m, 400m, and/or 800m races, best result being a 6th place finish in the 400m. Abe also won an International Silver Stick, as well as competed in an All-Ontario Final in minor hockey.

Mississauga Marathon 06
https://youtu.be/83c_wHw0Eik Part 1 of 4
https://youtu.be/V_EeYybDHtY Part 2 of 4
https://youtu.be/7tYHYXJLLUY Part 3 of 4
https://youtu.be/LdqK933ZOdQ Part 4 of 4
Mississauga Marathon 07
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuLmy-Nv2lA Part 1 of 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS9j7OJGiDs Part 2 of 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R2nnm92A1c Part 3 of 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X6drQUF_JE Part 4 of 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MzzjIKIeuU Part 5 of 5
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Coaches Documentary
