“You need water, because you’re going to lose your voice. And try to be everywhere.”
That’s the advice of Dian Papineau-Magill, a longtime member of the team that makes Track and Field – the territorial athletics championship held each year in Hay River – come to life.
As volunteer coordinator, Papineau-Magill is charged with making sure about 120 volunteers have everything they need and know what they’re doing. Without them, the event and its 1,156 participants would be sunk.
A race official surveys the scene at Track and Field 2026 in Hay River. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Athletes are lined up for the boys’ U13 1,500m race. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Mildred Hall’s Ori Black takes part in shot put. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
So large is Track and Field – with competitors from more than a dozen NWT communities – that Papineau-Magill says she was recently informed it is the country’s largest outdoor athletics meet. (This couldn’t be immediately verified.)
“I’ve been here 17 years and I hit the ground running when I got here,” she says when asked how long she’s been volunteering for the event.
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“I love watching the little kids race, the joy on their faces. It doesn’t matter if they come in fifth or first, everybody gets a ribbon and they’re just excited to be here.”
The 2026 edition was about 20 short of the all-time record for participation, organizers said.
Here are some of our favourite photos from the event. Names and affiliations are as shown in official race start lists and results.
Racers are reminded how many laps remain during a distance event on Wednesday. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Jacob Porter-Weber looks behind him at the boys’ 1,500m field. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Henry Frazer with an unorthodox – and successful – high jump attempt. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Anna Aikman throwing for Sir John Franklin High School. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Nérika Caissie running on behalf of École Allain St-Cyr. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Easton Johns-Courtoreille during the javelin event. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
William Mansfield throws the discus. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
A megaphone is a requirement to herd athletes pre-race. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Belle Smith leads a race on Friday morning. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Samuel Sansfacon, left, spots the camera while waiting for a discus attempt. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Carmen Braden appears composed ahead of one of Track and Field’s adult events. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Getting the balance right during Friday’s javelin contest. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
A popular side event at Track and Field involved finding ways to attach clothes pegs to people or their property without them noticing. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Mikey Lafferty leaps into the long jump pit. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Negotiations take place regarding the general direction in which a youth “shuttle” relay will be run. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Shuttle relay participants anxiously await the baton from their team-mates. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Sadie Wedzin throws for Behchokǫ̀’s Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Ava Bembridge, centre, with race face on. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Sir John Franklin High School’s Michael Murphy, second from right, wins a 100m heat. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
PWK High School’s Kyren Poitras, right, ducks at the line during a 100m heat at Track and Field 2026. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
NJ Macpherson School’s Wesley Oldfield, wearing 638, receives some support from fellow high jump contenders pre-jump. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
École Boréale’s Billie Cook powers toward the finish line. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Range Lake North’s Hudson Maund in the high jump. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
At the start line, athletes are placed into their lanes with conviction by local volunteers. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
What appears to be a hamburger holding a watering can assists at the start line on Thursday at Track and Field 2026. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
A mascot deals with some tricky customers at Track and Field. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Hay River RCMP pull a side-by-side in a timed contest against the town’s fire hall. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Sparky the Hay River fire hall mascot suffers an ignominious end to proceedings after RCMP win the head-to-head contest. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
