UBC Thunderbird Maria Bernard capped her university track and field career with a golden crown — two, in fact — plus the women’s honour as the most outstanding performer at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Atlanta May 21 to 23.
Bernard, who’s from Calgary, dominated the 3,000-metre steeplechase from the opening gun. The fourth-year senior jumped out to the lead on the first lap to claim her second-straight steeplechase national title in a time of 10 minutes and 12.44 seconds. In Friday's heats, she set a NAIA national meet record of 10:12.31, breaking the previous benchmark set in 2009.
Three and a half hours after her first race, Bernard stepped up for the 5,000 metres and caught up to T-Birds teammate Amelie de Fenoyl on the last lap before overtaking her with 300 metres to go. She won her second national title on the day in 17:13.83 while de Fenoyl took silver in 17:16.44.
She became the first female Thunderbird to win the NAIA’s Herbert B. Marett Outstanding Performer award. Olympic jumper Mike Mason won the men's award in 2008.
"I didn't know how the double was going to go, but I'm glad I had the energy to contribute,” Bernard said in a UBC news release. "Being able to finish my last race with Amelie right there at the finish line was wonderful. It was really a team effort, as I was definitely propelled by my teammates' support and had great help recovering and preparing from [UBC distance coach] Sean Cannon and the whole coaching staff."
The championship marks the final meet for outgoing UBC coach Marek Jedrzejek.
— With files from UBC Athletics
