KEEPING UP WITH BRITTANY.
Brittany Stenekes’ summer sizzled.
Fresh off a super season, academically and athletically, at Cornell University, the 19-year-old was named to Canada’s Junior Pan American Games team.
In her first international competition in Trujillo, Peru, Stenekes ran a personal best while establishing a Cornell record i n the 100m hurdles (13.72).
“It was an honour to wear red and white, but this time representing Canada (Cornell’s colours, too, are red and white),” said the Operations Research and Engineering major.
Often, athletes exchange kits at international events. Not Stenekes.
“This was my first national team so I decided to keep my gear,” said the Dundas Valley High School grad.
There’s something mighty special about your “first” international singlet.
It wasn’t long after Stenekes returned from Peru that she headed to the Canada Games in Winnipeg where once again she suited up in red and white, this time as a member of Team Ontario.
The Junior Pan Am experience motivated Stenekes to become “f aster and stronger. Going into the Games, my expectation was to finish my season on a strong note,” said the Second Team All-Ivy League All-Star.
And finish on a strong note she did.
Stenekes hurdled to Canada Games gold, establishing yet another personal best and Cornell school record (13.57).
“I knew I was in really good shape to run (at the Canada Games),” she said.
Stenekes’ Cornell coach, Rich Bowman, was delighted with his “Big Red” student/athlete’s sum- mer season.
“Britt’s performance at the Canada Games was extraordinary,” said Bowman.
And so, too, was the Cornell freshman’s performance in the classroom.
Stenekes earned Academic-All American status — the only Canadian freshman among five teammates honoured.
“Britt came to Cornell to be a student first,” said Bowman. “As a student entered in the Engineering College, Britt figured out quickly how to balance her academics with athletics.
“I’m so proud of her Academic All-American status.” And athletically? “Athletically, Britt is among the most competitive athletes I have ever seen over my 36 years of coaching.”
Bowman is looking forward to Stenekes’ NCAA sophomore season.
Also impressed with Stenekes is her Hamilton Olympic Club (HOC) coach, Matt Hodgson.
Stenekes’ gold medal performance and personal best time at the Canada Games now rank her as the top U20 sprint hurdler in Canada.
“Finishing ranked No. 1 in Canada was unexpected,” said Hodgson. “Patience is the key. We know what Britt is capable of and, with a little more fine-tuning, there should be more improvement in the years to come.”
Bowman (at Cornell) and Hodgson (at HOC) are a unique coaching tandem.
“We came up with a plan. I sent it to Coach Bowman to get his feedback and off we went.”
Said Bowman: “Britt is wonderful to work with. She accepts her success well. Success has not changed her. She is very humble.”
Hodgson concluded, “Britt is truly special.”
Indeed she is.
Cecelia Carter Smith is a former four-time Canadian champion and world record holder in track. She is a member of the McMaster Sports Hall of Fame and the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction.