Strong showing for Todoruk at indoor track and field events

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Published on Friday, March 27, 2015

Submitted photo. Amy Todoruk at the Boeing Classic in Winnipeg

By Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Banner

Amy Todoruk’s high school track and field career is ending on a high note. The student athlete from Neepawa Area Collegiate recently competed at the High School Series Championships at the Max Bell Centre in Winnipeg.

Todoruk was one of the few competitors not from Winnipeg or Selkirk to participate in the event, considered the premier indoor track and field competition in the province. She took part in the 60 metre and the 200 metre sprints and was able to finish third in both races, while also achieving personal best times in each. Combined with a strong showing at the Boeing Classic Relays earlier in the month, it’s been a very successful month for the 18 year old.

Todoruk said this is the first time she has competed in the High School Series, so she went into   the competition with the simple expectation of topping her previous personal benchmarks.

“I was happy with the results. I was able to beat my personal best time in the 60m by point two seconds, that’s quite an improvement when it comes to indoor track, so I was satisfied with that,” said Todoruk. “With the 200 [metre], I ended up third and once again was able to top my previous best time, so that was my main goal going into the competition. To not only achieve that, but to do it in both races is something I’m very proud of.”

Considering Todoruk does not have the same type of access to indoor facilities that her competition does makes her results even more impressive. She said her teammates and coaches at NACI work around their circumstances as best they can.

“It’s a challenge [to train] especially for jumping type of events but we find a way to do as much as we can in the halls [at NACI] or in the gym. We also try to get into Winnipeg as much as possible for training. It is tough to work around but you find ways,” noted Todoruk. “I know going in to the events that I don’t have as much training, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t do it. It makes me push myself that much harder.”

Todoruk’s coach Bryce Koscielny has witnessed firsthand Amy’s evolution as a track and field runner for the past four years. He said she has a natural talent, but has developed and refined her technique over time, to become a smarter, more disciplined athlete.

“When she was younger, she was naturally gifted, but over time she has refined her technique. Paid attention to her mechanics. As she has grown up, she’s gotten a lot stronger and really put all those things together. We’re starting to see dramatic improvement,” said Koscielny. “There is a lot more to running than simply going out and running. There is a real mental preparation that’s required. You also have to be working at it every day to get to the next level and Amy is doing things five, six, seven days a week. Every little thing becomes more and more important. Nutrition, mental preparation, mental strength. Making sacrifices and Amy has done all that and we’re seeing the results.”  

Next season, Todoruk will attend the University of Manitoba and continue her track and field career with the Bisons. She said in the off-season she’ll focus on increasing her training in preparation for the U of M. Todorok added that achieving this level of success would not have been possible without the support of many people. 

“I’m very thankful to my coaches and my mom [Heather],” said Todoruk. “Because I would not have reached these types of personal bests, if it weren’t for their support and guidance. I really appreciate it.”