University of Guelph track and field runner Rachel Aubry can add another award to her growing collection. The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) has named Aubry a “Woman of Influence” for 2013.
The award, now in its 10th year, honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports and fields of study. Aubry, a fifth-year track and field runner was part of the successful female Gryphon track team that won the OUA championship title in February of this year and earned a team bronze at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships in March.
“It is a huge honour receiving this award as not only my athletic career at Guelph is being rewarded but my academics as well. I’ve worked hard over the past five years, representing the Gryphons on the track and it is definitely a great award to receive which I think represents my time at the university well,” said Aubry. Aubry said receiving the Woman of Influence award will only benefit her future endeavors.
“This award gives me the confidence to know that I’ve done a good job at balancing both my athletics and academics and that I will be ready to handle the next chapter of my life in both running and any future schooling I decide to pursue.”
Aubry, originally from Ottawa, began running recreationally in elementary and high school. Successful on the track, she decided to train more seriously and choose to study human kinetics at the University of Guelph in order to “push through to the next level with track.”
The accomplished coach Dave Scott-Thomas, who has a combined total of 15 CIS and OUA coach of the year awards, runs the Guelph Gryphon running teams.
The 800 metre distance is Aubry’s favourite but it is not a standalone event in OUA. During the season she enjoys running the 4 x 800 metre relay with the team. “I have had many amazing experiences with my middle distance team mates racing for the gold at both OUA’s and CIS
championships.”
She won an individual gold medal in the 4 x 800 metre relay and silver in the 1000 metre at OUA’s. In addition she won a pair of bronze medals in the 600 metre and the 4 x 800 relay at the CIS championships.
Aubry plans to stay in Guelph and continue training with the local Speed River Track and Field Club. The club was founded by Gryphon running team coach Dave Scott-Thomas in 1997 and has the distinction of having seven Olympic runners on its roster.
Aubry is also planning to pursue graduate studies in the future but for now is going to keep logging the miles.
“Before I decide what I will be doing for graduate studies. I’d like to put my focus on my running for the next little bit and see how far I can go.”