ACAC Indoor Track preview
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
Guests at the Catalonia Yucatan Beach all-inclusive can unwind as they look forward to relaxing days on the beach, fun in the sun along with relaxation and great food.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico is tourist haven.
So guests, may have been surprised recently, when for a few consecutive evenings they would see a fair-skinned blonde women out for 45 minute runs.
"I would get up in the morning or evening when it was cooler and go for longer runs...around 45 minutes," recalled Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder indoor track student/athlete Mienna Starosielski of the recent vacation.
"There were paths everywhere and it was nice. I also did some swimming. Sometimes people would look at me odd and probably wonder why I was going out running."
Running is a yearlong passion for the Ashmont, Alberta native.
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| Mienna Starosielski, Concordia University of Edmonton Indoor Track Runner |
"In Grade 6 I joined the Northeast Alberta Track and Field Club in St. Paul and did all of the events when I was younger, narrowing off into mid distance with the 400 metre and 800 m. Basically 1,000 m and under."
Starosielski would place fourth in the 800 m during her Grade 11 and Grade 12 years at the Alberta Schools Athletic Association provincials.
"My goal was to win at the high school provincials," recalls Starosielski, 19. "My dad (Tom) had actually won (triple jump) at provincials when he was in Grade 12. I wanted to continue his passion and go from there.
"I also liked how it was an individual sport. The whole team thing was always fun (she played basketball at Ecole Mallaig School, quitting after Grade 10 to concentrate on track) but working on improving yourself in a individual sport like running was a big thing for me."
Enrolled in the Bachelor of Science and Biology, Starosielski, said the transition from the outdoor 800 m and 400 m high school distances to the college indoor distances of 600 m and 300 m, was difficult last season.
"I had to adjust quite a bit. It was pretty weird training from what I was used to, which had that extra 100 m or 200 m. You had to change your pace and to be honest, I am still trying to learn how to do it right."
At the 2016-2017 ACAC Indoor Track Championships held last year in Lethbridge, she would place third in the 600 m behind a 1:43.02 clocking. The event was capture by MacEwan Griffins' Nikita Case at 1:39.41.
Case would also run to victory in the 300 m (41:55) with Starosielski earning a 6th (45.17).
This year at the two ACAC Running Room Grand Prix events (January 27, 2018 at MacEwan University and February 3, 2018 at SAIT) Starosielski's best finishes were fifth in the 300 (45.16) and sixth in the 600 (1:50.57).
She also participates in the women's 1,000 m and 4 x 400 m relay.
Of her interest in running she states.
"It is a healthy lifestyle and it kind of makes you feel good and keeps you busy, It keeps you motivated and it helps me think better."
Standing 5-foot-4, Starosielski said she does not let her size deter her while running the lanes.
"I know that long distance is more lengthy runners but I have quite a decent stride that would compensate for my height."
She added that her career goal is to attend a school for Veterinary medicine.
Her parents are fourth generation cattle farmers with "around 400 head right now."
When training, be it in Canada or on vacation in Mexico, Starosielski likes to listen to country music, "Garth Brooks is one of my tops" or switch genres to "Classics 80' kind of rock."
Starosielski will be just one of many student/athletes lacing up this weekend as the 2018 ACAC Running Room Indoor Track Championships are slated for MacEwan University March 9-10, 2018 at the Kinsmen Field House.
Schools participating are Concordia Thunder, MacEwan Griffins, Grande Prairie Wolves, Lethbridge Kodiaks, Red Deer Kings/Queens, SAIT Trojans, St. Mary's Lightning and Augustana Vikings.
ACAC Indoor Track Championship Website http://www.acac.ab.ca/tournament/track/2017-18/index