Image credit: Al McLeod
By Earl Seitz
Alwilda Van Ryswyk

Track and Field loses a legend, Alwilda Van Ryswyk dies at age 90

Sep 15, 2021 | 1:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — B.C., Kamloops, and Canada have lost a pillar of the track and field community.

Alwilda Van Ryswyk passed away on Tuesday, September 14 at the age of 90.

Her volunteer work in track and field goes back to the 1954 British Empire Games in Vancouver.

Van Ryswyk was at track side at Empire Stadium officiating when Roger Bannister and John Landy ran the sub four minute mile, dubbed “The Miracle Mile.”

She was a founding member of the Kamloops Track and Field Club, an official for over 65 years, and sitting member on B.C. Athletics junior development and officials committees for decades.

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Alwilda Van Ryswyk was the first female to be inducted into the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame in the Hall’s first induction ceremony in 1991.

She was also a member of the B.C. Athletics Hall of Fame.

Alwilda Van Ryswyk is survived by sons John and Len, daughter-in-law Dianne, three grandchildren and many friends.

by Earl Seitz

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