THUNDER BAY -- Amy Stieh has only travelled as far south as Wisconsin, but thanks to her speed, that’s all about to change
The local track star travelled to Kingston, Jamaica to represent Team Canada at the U18 Jamaican Invitational.
A Grade 11 student from Hammarskjold High School, Stieh says her spot on Team Canada was something her and Lakehead track and field coach Joe McDonough were working towards for the entire season.
“We start every season by setting goals,” she said. “He sat me down and asked me ‘Is this something you want to do.’”
“Throughout the season Stieh would train and compare her times to the likes of the provinces best.
In early June, Stieh finally got the chance to compare in real time.
At the OFSAA track and field meet in Windsor, Stieh qualified for third in the senior girls’ 400-metre dash with a time of 55.96 seconds.
“It was pretty momentous. I was pretty excited,” Stieh said. “Especially since I was competing against Grade 12s… I knew could medal, but didn't think I would.”
Although her OFSAA results were technically independent of the Team Canada selection, McDonough said her performance against the field “secured her spot” on the national team.
“She wasn’t going to get in a more competitive race than that,” he said. “And when it mattered most she performed at her best.”
Stieh said the training at Lakehead has “been everything to her,” and that she works out six times a week.
“She’s someone who has a really good attitude towards getting the hard work done,” McDonough added. “You don’t have to grind it out of her.”
“It’s 90 per cent training, and the rest is just wanting it and working hard,” Stieh said.
As far as what she expects from Jamaica, Stieh is hoping the competition motivates her to excel at a higher level.
“I’m meeting these people… people that will probably one day be Olympic athletes” she said. “ It will be super cool to see what other athletes have done to get this far.”
McDonough says he’s hoping to keep her at Lakehead after she graduates, but the invitational will give her major exposure to schools in the U.S. and other parts of Canada.
Stieh will participate in the 400-metre dash against international competition and has a chance to be selected on the 4-by-100 metre relay team.
