When you watch the smoothness with which Charlotte Crombeen cruises over the hurdles or flies through the air, it's almost impossible to believe she couldn't overcome any obstruction thrown in her path.

So it's a pretty good bet that she'll handle another sizeable obstacle in front of her with the same grace and determination that has made her a track and field champion.

The 15-year-old Mother Teresa student was diagnosed in February with multiple sclerosis.

Crombeen won the OFSAA midget 80-metre hurdles last year and finished third in the high jump.

She made a good start in getting back to OFSAA this year, completing a triple in the first day of the Thames Valley Region Athletic Association Central Conference track and field championship yesterday at TD Waterhouse Stadium.

On a cold, rainy day, Crombeen won the junior triple jump with a conference record, won the 80m hurdles and blew away the competition in the long jump.

It was a good day for the Crombeen family. Charlotte's sister Emma won the senior girls pole vault with a conference record jump of 3.51, a few centimetres off the Ontario record.

It's difficult to believe that a few months ago, Charlotte was in hospital beginning treatment for the illness. She couldn't train, lost weight and muscle mass and felt awful.

Now she says, "I'm fine. It's just another hurdle I guess."

Crombeen's coach, Fraser Clarke, says she is one of the best athletes in the province in her events.

"She's not only a great athlete on the field but a leader off it," he said. "She's very coachable and likeable. She always has a smile on her face."

There are different forms of multiple sclerosis. While there isn't a cure, being diagnosed doesn't mean a person is destined to be incapacitated.

Crombeen has occasional episodes where parts of her body go numb. That's how doctors first diagnosed the illness.

"I got one multi-event meet in and I won that," she said. "I tried to compete in another meet, but I couldn't finish my hurdles. I couldn't feel my legs. I lost sensation."

Her family doctor told her the numbness could be caused by a number of things.

"That (multiple sclerosis) was one of them, so I was kind of prepared," she said. "But it was still a shock."

When she was diagnosed, she was immediately admitted to hospital and the treatment began.

"It was really hard because she couldn't do anything," said sister Emma. "She lost weight and muscle and her muscles get sore. But she never says, 'Hey, feel sorry for me, I have MS.' She just tries to do what she always does. She's handling it really well."

The two sisters are close. They aren't competitive with each other but supportive and push each other to be better.

Emma has only been pole vaulting for a year but hopes to set an OFSAA record this year. She's looking to jump four metres which would make her eligible for a scholarship south of the border.

"I think they are both going to win their events at OFSAA," Clarke said "There's obviously a genetic factor at work."

It wasn't an easy day to compete though.

Considering the conditions, on the day, the sisters' performances were terrific.

"It was like running into a brick wall out there. It was terrible," said Charlotte. "I could barely see when I was running my hurdles. You get tired faster and it's hard to keep warm, your muscles are all tight."

Crombeen's idol is Jessica Zelinka. Zelinka holds numerous records including the long jump. Crombeen won the long jump with a jump of 4.82m.

"But I had a massive jump at the end, 5.50 but I faulted," Crombeen laughed. "Jessica's record is 5.57. I like to have something to reach for.

"My ultimate goal is to make the Olympics but then, everyone says that."