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The eldest of three sisters, St
Charles senior Amy Stewart has always been a very active youngster, at
least for as long as she remembers. “My mom was really into sports” she
explains, noting a passion for just remaining active.
Having participated in
soccer through much of her youth, Stewart recalls looking at cross
country running as a great way to stay in shape for soccer season during
her first fall semester at St Charles College.
“Soccer really got me
interested in doing long distances” she says, recalling her first meet.
Looking to basically crack the top twenty, Stewart surprised both
herself and her coach by winning the race and almost immediately
experiencing a definite change in her approach to running. “Now it was
serious.”
Like many young
athletes, her commitment to the sport grew gradually as she realized the
training that was necessary to take her to the next level. “I remember
going to OFSAA in Grade 9 and being on the starting line with something
like 400 other girls. It was such a rush”, she admits.
Entering what is likely
her final year of secondary schooling, Stewart looks to advance to NOSSA
and hopefully make another appearance at the all-Ontario event. Yet, she
remains steadfast that running will follow her right through to the next
phase of her life.
“I definitely would make
room for this. I think I will always need something that allows me to
get away from things” she points out, acknowledging a particular love of
pure cross country trails that incorporate the scenic vistas found
within the wilderness of Northern Ontario.
Come next September, she
hopes to pursue studies in mid-wifery (at Laurentian) or possible
radiation technology at McMaster University. Either way, she will recall
with fondness the role that sport played during her time at the home of
the Cardinals.
“In Grade 9, you come in
and no one knows you. But my running allowed me to become known pretty
quickly around the school”, she notes. Truth be told, Amy Stewart has
made a name for herself well beyond the boundaries of St Charles
College.
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