Posted: Nov 11, 2016
Stewart Made An Early Impression With Cross-Country Team
By DANNY RODE
It didn’t take Jill Stewart long to make an impression with the RDC cross-country running team.
Before the season even began, first-year head coach Kari Elliott said the former Hunting Hills star was one to watch.
Stewart didn’t disappoint. In fact the 18-year-old exploded onto the scene, finishing third among college runners in her first Grand Prix race of the season and never left the top five.
“Jill is laid back and not flashy, but she has an iron will under that quiet demeanor,” said Elliott. “She works hard in practice and during a race, she’s never satisfied with her result … she’s always looking to improve.”
Stewart didn’t know what to expect when she arrived on the college scene.
“I was hoping I would place but didn’t expect to improve as much as I did,” she said.
“It’s really nice to have other teammates to push me, especially Jordanna (Cota). She’s always fast and it’s nice to try to keep up with her. She really pushes me, as do all my teammates.”
Stewart finished third twice, second and fifth in four Grand Prix races this season and took fourth in the ACAC finals, which saw all the top college runners on hand.
“I went into that first Grand Prix hoping I could be in the top 10, or even five, but a third was a wake-up call that I could be that good,” she said. “As for the finals they had a good field with more runners and more teams than the Grand Prixs. I was happy with the fourth.”
The RDC team placed three runners on the ACAC All-Conference team — Cota, Stewart and Amy Severtson. Cota was second and Severtson seventh at the ACAC finals.
Janaya Garbe, also out of Hunting Hills, was eighth and missed the All-Conference team by one.
The RDC team goes into the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association championships Saturday, ranked No, 1 in Canada.
“That’s exciting,” said Stewart. “I think there will be a bit more pressure on us, but we’re all having fun with it. We just hope to finish in the medals as a team.”
Jodi Nesbitt (nee Sanguin) who was one of the top runners in the country while at RDC, would be someone to listen to prior to competing at the Canadians.
“Once in a while the nationals will come up and it’s nice to hear what she has to say on it … it’s good advice.”
Stewart had an outstanding high school career, finishing 14th in the high school provincials in Grade 10, sixth in Grade 11 and fifth in Grade 12. She helped the Lightning finish second in Grade 10 and third the next two seasons.
“I started taking running seriously in Grade 9 and 10 and competing at a really good high school program and with a great coach (Brian Johnson) helped prepare me for college,” she said.
Stewart is only listed at five-feet, which could be a negative when it comes to matching strides with taller runners. But she doesn’t let that bother her. In fact she sees it as a positive.
“I don’t think it matters, in fact it’s easier for me to run up hills with the shorter stride and cadence.”
Stewart ran 4km in high school and 5km in college.
“I like the 5km it’s a good distance, I like it more than 4km in high school,” she said.
She also has ran in a number of 10km races, including the Woody’s RV World 10km, where she had her personal best.
Earlier this year she had a personal best in the 5km when she ran a 20 minute 17 clocking at SAIT.
“When I did that I knew I was going in the right direction.”
Stewart is in the Bachelor of Science program, but is looking at possibly changing courses. What she will be is around RDC for some time yet, which is exciting for Elliott.
“Next year we’re running 6km, which will be to her advantage … I definitely see her continuing to take strides up.”
Besides continuing to look at winning an ACAC and CCAA championship Stewart has one other goal.
“I would love to run a marathon one day … just to complete it would be an accomplishment.”