Tatjana Mece Is Training Elite Level Athletes in BC

Graduating from the Universityof Sports in Tirana, Albania,Tatjana Mece went on tobe international level athlete andthe National Champion in HighJump (1975-1979) and Pentathlon.She was a member of theAlbanian National Team 1975-1980, competing in High Jump,Pentathlon and the 4x100m relayin many international trackmeet including the EuropeanChampionship. Today, Meceis an Assistant Track & FieldCoach at UBC, bringing to thetable her many years experienceof teaching Physical Educationat the University of Tirana inAlbani.Demonstrating outstandingdedication and volunteeringnumerous hours for the benefitof the team, Mece is regardedas a knowledgeable and positivecoach, and as a result has madean invaluable contribution to thevarsity team since her first year atUBC. Her hard work and knowledgehas led to high level athletedevelopment who have subsequentlycompeted successfullyup to the semifinals in WorldChampionships and have won41 medals at Canadian Championshipswith 19 champion titles.With over 33 years of coachingunder her belt, Mece has trainedathletes from elementary schoolto university level. In 2005, Mecebegan coaching the VancouverOlympic Club.Since living in BC, Mece hasinitiated and built many trackprograms in BC including NewWestminster’s Junior DevelopmentProgram, New West Spartans,the VOC, Douglas CollegeRunning Club and the Harry JeromeOutreach program. Trainingelite athletes is somethingMece is known form, and in2012 her athlete Erin Templetonplaced fifth in triple jumpwith a personal best of 11.79at the NAIA Championships.Tatjana Mece has also trainedelite athletes on the UBC teamsuch as Devan Wiebe, KatherineTourigny and Tamara Harriswho are medal winners in majorchampionships.In 2013, Mece’s trainedathletes broke 14 BC record,achieved 10 BC ProvincialChampions, eight CanadianNational Champion titles andtwo bronze medals. Two of herathletes competed this year atWorld Youth Track and FieldChampionship in Donetsk -UKR; Stephanie Cho ranked11th in the world in 400mH andMihailo Stefanoivic, ranked 21stin the world in 110mH.Mece was a 2007 BC Awardwinner of JD Excellence inCoaching and BC ProvincialCoach for jumps and combineevents at 2013 Canadian LegionChampionship. On December7th 2013 at the BC AthleticsAGM and Award Banquet,Tatjana was awarded the “2013Excellence in Coaching” for thesenior coach category.