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It was an experience that 20 local high school students won't soon forget.

Track and field athletes from F.H. Collins, Porter Creek and Vanier represented the territory at the 2013 Nike High School Grand Prix in Toronto over the weekend. The boys and girls teams were known as Yukon Rush.

Boys coach Don White had nothing but good things to say about the second annual event, held at the University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium on May 11.

"From the moment that we were met at the airport until we bid our team associates goodbye, the team was treated like athletic royalty,鈥� White told the Star.

The territory's troupe was given a full complement of Nike training and competition clothing 鈥� including racing spikes 鈥� and were also entertained by a number of Canadian Olympic and national athletics team members, past and present.

The unique event also included Nike athlete panels and social and cultural experiences alongside the 10-event track and field competition.

Porter Creek's Scott Peterson was the lone Yukon medallist, taking home a bronze in the 100-metre dash after running a blazing 11.80.

"The rest of the team brought back a variety of aches and pains, a lot of wonderful memories and thoughts about maybe doing this again next year,鈥� said White.

Peterson's medal wasn't the only highlight of the weekend. He also finished eighth in the 400-metre with a time of 56.03, and 10th in long jump with a 5.41-metre leap.

"It's really awesome,鈥� said Peterson of the Grand Prix meet. "It's such a nice thing for Nike to sponsor this event for us.

To bring kids together from all across Canada, all the free stuff, seeing the amazing places, competing at a really high level 鈥� This is awesome.鈥�

Martin Sealy, an F.H. Collins student, also had a good showing in three events, finishing sixth in the 400-metre dash (55.62), 10th in the 800-metre (2:13.44), and 12th in the 200-metre (25.05).

Honourable mentions include Dominic Korn (F.H. Collins) placing 11th in high jump with a vertical clearance of 1.54 metres, and Karter Kazakoff (F.H. Collins), who finished tied for 12th in long jump with a top leap of 5.40 metres.

On the girls side, Jaylene Kelly (F.H. Collins) earned a 12th-place finish in high jump, clearing 1.25 metres, while fellow Yukoner Rachel Kinvig (F.H. Collins) finished right behind her at 1.2 metres.

Meanwhile, Camille Galloway (F.H. Collins) ran to a 13th-place finish in the 1500-metre with a time of 5:35.84.

"This has taught me a lot about running,鈥� Galloway said of the event. "Getting to try out this track is a great experience because we don't have anything like this in Whitehorse.鈥�

White hopes some of the athletes use the Grand Prix as a launching point for the Canada Summer Games this August in Sherbrooke, Que.

The coach spent time training with his athletes, three times a week prior to the event.

White said many of his athletes had never attempted the disciplines of athletics prior to the Grand Prix, and many had little time to prepare due to school schedules, weather and competing extracurricular interests.

Chris Kirk, the girls coach, co-ordinated the athletes' strength training program last fall.

Other athletes competing included: (from F.H. Collins) Sam Bonar, Keifer Steriah, Kyle Wallace, Chris Little, Cambria Fuerstner, Solstice Sarin-Toews, Ingrid Janzen, Eliza Paul, Sara Burke-Forsyth; (Porter Creek) Aiden Bradley and Brody Smith; (Vanier) Katherine Londero and Michah Furgusun-McKeage.