When it comes to hitting the target, Brooklynn Novak has pinpoint accuracy.
Now, after just under three years in the sport, the Quesnel native is set to represent her country.
Novak is one of two people from B.C. who have made Archery Canada's team for the upcoming World Archery Youth Championships in Winnipeg. She is also one of two ladies in Canada's under-21 compound women's division.
"I was pretty excited to actually make the team," Novak said to Black Press Media, adding she was at work when she got the email. "I was just excited to get home and tell people, but I couldn't tell anybody until they posted it first. I had to keep it a secret for three days."
Novak's family is super proud of her and this achievement.
"[They're] very excited, my mom was jumping up and down and was kind of mad I didn't tell her right away," said Novak, adding her grandparents went around and everyone knew their granddaughter made the national team.
Novak started to get into the sport a little bit in 2020, following in her brother's footsteps, but the pandemic halted those plans. She didn't get a real start in the sport until September 2022.
Just four months after picking up archery, she placed third at the 2023 indoor provincials.
"That was my first success, and I kind of just kept going from there," said Novak. "I kind of got the hang of shooting really quick. Everyone's told me I've had a natural talent for shooting."
She's gone on to compete in many tournaments, including the Canadian Outdoor Archery Championships in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 2024, where she finished in second place in the U21 women's compound. Novak also won gold at the BC Archery Provincial Outdoor Championship a month later.
To get ready for the championships, Novak has been practicing with coach Dale Chapplow at the Quesnel range.
Novak leaves for Winnipeg on Aug. 15, with the youth championships taking place from Aug. 17 to 25.
