Simon Watts, Dalhousie University

Men's Track & Field

In Simon Watts’ rookie year at Dalhousie, his coach Rich Lehman nicknamed him “The Golden Child” because of his impressive high jump abilities.

Now entering his fifth and final year of eligibility, it would seem the 22-year-old Prospect Bay, N.S., native has continued to more than earn the accolade.

Watts was first introduced to track and field as a child in physical education class and immediately took a liking to the high jump. “At that time, I wasn’t very athletic and rather uncoordinated,” he recalls. “But, for some reason it was the perfect fit and I relished every minute I was jumping.”

In high school, Watts joined a local track club and began training and competing year round. He then competed as part of the provincial team at the national championship in B.C.

“It really ignited a competitive fire inside me,” he says. “Afterwards, I quit all other extracurricular sports and focused solely on track.

Watts says he chose to attend Dalhousie because of its academic reputation coupled with its impressive reputation in track and field within the AUS conference. He is currently completing a kinesiology degree and is considering pursuing graduate school in a related field.

Regardless of what he chooses to pursue, Coach Lehman has high hopes for Watts in the years to come.

“I’m hoping he continues to compete and fully achieve his athletic potential and pursue a senior national team position,” he says. “After his playing days are over, I have no doubt that Simon will make a fine coach and/or sport scientist in the track world.”

In the more immediate future, “it sounds like a tall order, but I think this season we’ll see his best year yet,” says Lehman. Watts has faced challenges in the past with injuries but Lehman believes these are now behind him.

“He’s healthy, stronger than he’s ever been, faster than he’s ever been and hungry to leave his mark,” he says. Coach Lehman’s unwavering confidence in Watts’ abilities is evident as he predicts “more rewriting of the record books, and a shot at a CIS record in triple jump.”

Watts boasts a record a mile long which includes a national junior medal, a CIS championship in two events, three CIS medals, two AUS records, three Dalhousie records, numerous Nova Scotia open records and six CIS top 5 finishes, to name a few. He was also named Dalhousie’s male athlete of the year.

Despite his impressive resume, Coach Lehman says he remains “very understated and humble”.

“You’ll never hear him make a prediction about his own performances. I guess he’ll let me do that instead!”

Getting to know Simon Watts:

What has been your most memorable moment competing for Dalhousie?

“It would have to be last year in Winnipeg. A month before the meet, no one was really sure how things were going to go. Several key athletes were injured, and the season that started so optimistically appeared to be slipping away. Fortunately, it all came together at the conference championship. Despite some disappointments, most of the potential point scorers stepped up and placed us on the score board in a dramatic fashion. It was a summation of fantastic individual efforts, urged on by a positive team dynamic that lead to the most memorable championship meet I’ve attended.”

Coach Lehman on what sets Simon apart from his fellow competitors?

“A thirst for new knowledge – about technique for his events, periodization and planning, anatomy and physiology, and injury rehab and prevention. Basically, he questions everything and is always seeking to improve.” DAL head coach Richard Lehman.