John McIsaac

Bridgetown has always been regarded as a” hot bed” of track and field, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. In the early 1960s, a young distance runner, John McIsaac, began a running career that would lead to many outstanding performances. As a member of the Bridgetown Legion and the Bridgetown Regional High School track and field teams, John established a number of records at the local, provincial and national levels.

In 1962, at the Provincial Age Class Championships in Truro, John placed first in the Midget Boys Mile with a time of 4:44.1 to set a new provincial record. In that same year, John competed at the
British Empire Games Trials in Halifax where he placed fourth out of 12 experienced competitors in the three- mile run.

At the Nova Scotia Age Class Championships in Greenwood in 1963, John won the two- mile race in 9:59.5 to establish a new Juvenile Provincial record. He followed this with a victory in Truro,
where he won the two- mile run in a time of 9:39.8 which broke the Canadian record for the Juvenile Class. This run was one of the most outstanding performances of John’s running career. As a
result of these successes, he was chosen to represent Nova Scotia at the Canadian Age Class Championships in Waterloo, Ontario. John competed in the 3000- meter run: he placed first in his heat and was the overall winner in this event with a time of 9: 07.2. It is important to note that Bridgetown’s Bobby Lockett placed first in his heat in this same event, placing second to John
overall. Two Bridgetown athletes, then, placed first and second in a national race. In 1963, John was also invited to participate in the Dominion Day Track Meet in Toronto’s East York Stadium. He was entered in the Midget Boys Mile where he once again placed first.

In 1964, at the Antigonish Highland Games, John placed first in the 880- yard run in a time of 2:03.1, the fastest time of his career. He also was the winner of the Senior Men’s Open three- mile run in the same track meet. At the Nova Scotia Age Class Championships, held in Antigonish that year, John won the Juvenile mile run in 4:27.8, setting a new record. At the Eastern Canadian Age Class Championships held in Summerside, PEI, John placed first in the Juvenile two- mile run in a time of 9:39.1. When the Canadian Olympic Trials were held in St.Lambert, Quebec that year, John was entered in the 10,000- meter run. He placed sixth in this event in a highly competitive field. Later in St. Lambert, John won the Invitational Juvenile 1500- meter run in a time of 4:11.

As well as his many successes during the summer track season, John had many outstanding performances at the High School Provincial Championships, known as the Acadia Relays, helping Bridgetown win a number of provincial titles. John too, was an outstanding cross country runner, winning the provincial title in 1964. He also participated in volleyball and basketball and many other aspects of high school life.

John was certainly a very fine athlete, one who is most worthy of his induction in the Bridgetown Area Sports Hall of Fame.