A University of Victoria track and field athlete was the first to cross the finish line at this monthB次元官网网址檚 nationals after an unexpected path to being a Canadian champion.
Jennifer Erickson won the U SPORTS 3,000m with a time of 9:37.02, making her the first Vikes runner to win a gold medal since 2016. She also placed sixth in the 1,500m race at the March 9-11 meet.
Just months before last yearB次元官网网址檚 nationals, the Vikes runner was diagnosed with Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes an overactive thyroid accompanied by chronic fatigue, rapid and irregular heartbeat, anxiety, weakness and trouble sleeping.
She was grateful for the opportunity to compete at the highest level in university sports, but knew she wasnB次元官网网址檛 at her best at the 2022 finals, according to a news release.
B次元官网网址淚 circled the calendar for U SPORTS 2023. From that race on, I had a target, and with a full year of managing my Graves and training healthy, my goal was to improve on my 2022 finish,B次元官网网址� she said in the release.
UVic says Erickson shattered her expectations for the 2023 season after hoping for a mid-pack finish in the 3,000m.
She completed a bachelorB次元官网网址檚 degree in biology during her first stint at UVic from 2013 to 2017. Erickson had competed in track during high school and started running with a Victoria-based endurance club before the pandemic shuttered an Ironman race she was training for in 2020.
It was around then when Erickson had returned to UVic for another degree and her coach recommended she try out for the Vikes cross country and track team B次元官网网址� which she then made as a walk-on.
B次元官网网址淚 always wished I had competed at the varsity level during my first degree and wondered what it would be like to have the resources of a varsity program and be part of a team, so itB次元官网网址檚 been cool to get the opportunity,B次元官网网址� the now fourth-year kinesiology student said.
EricksonB次元官网网址檚 years of endurance running made her the fastest middle-distance runner on the Vikes team.
B次元官网网址淭he reason Jenn won U SPORTS is because she is stronger than anyone else, and that comes from her endurance background. Everyone thinks itB次元官网网址檚 her kick at the end, but itB次元官网网址檚 because her aerobic capacity is so strong,B次元官网网址� said Vikes head coach Hilary Stellingwerff. B次元官网网址淛enn gets this look in her eyes, she knows how to hurt and she knows how to pick and choose her moments.B次元官网网址�
After sticking with the lead pack for most of the 3,000m final, it was the last 200m where she made her move and jumped ahead of the field. UVic says the walk-on turned U SPORTS gold medalist has left her mark on the schoolB次元官网网址檚 history books and that she hopes to pursue physiotherapy and a career in health care after graduating.
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