Another SOSSA gold for Buri

Carolyn Buri proved to be a quick study in the 2,000-metre open girls steeplechase.

Competing in the event for the first time at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association championships Wednesday at Centennial, the Grade 12 student at Lakeshore Catholic won gold to record her second career SOSSA victory in track. In Grade 10, she placed first in the 800 metres.

“This year was my last year of track and I wanted to try something different,” the 17-year-old said. “Last year, my teammate Lexi Clark had done steeplechase for two years and I decided to try that. It is going well and since she made it to OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) steeplechase last year, I am trying to follow in her footsteps.”

Buri competed in the 800 metres and 1,500 metres in Grades 10 and 11, making it to OFSAA in both events in Grade 10.

“Last year I made it to regionals for both and I just missed OFSAA. Even in cross country, I have been missing OFSAA by one place or one second so I am hoping this year in my last chance I get there,” she said. “It is frustrating but overall it is motivating. I don’t get discouraged by it. I just keep working.”

She started training for the steeplechase at the beginning of the spring track season.

“I was doing the workouts endurance-wise but I only started practising those hurdles a week before the first time I raced it. That was interesting, shocking and scarier than it looks.”

The Niagara Catholic Athletic Association champion attributes her success to an old pastime.

“I used to do gymnastics for many years and it is definitely that with the muscle memory.”

She went into SOSSA hoping for the best.

“I was expecting to be in the top three because I knew there were other girls who are just as fast as me. This was my first time doing the race with other people my speed and it was good. I stuck with them and I had a good kick at the end.”

She broke her personal best by more than 10 seconds in the race.

“I was really excited because I had some of my school friends come watch me and they were cheering me on. That was motivating.”

Equally motivating was knowing it was her last ever SOSSA meet.

“That was definitely going through my mind because any of these races could be my last. I just give it my all.”

This fall, she is heading to the University of Guelph to study biological engineering.

“I am not going to run varsity for Guelph but my goal is to be a lifelong runner. Guelph has a good running community so I will find a club there and keep running. School is going to be very demanding and with my triathlon background, I want to get back into that.”

Her goal for the season is to make it to OFSAA, have fun and enjoy every race and workout.

“It is great to work hard for something and show off your hard work.”

Fun hasn’t always been a part of her track career.

“I used to get very nervous for these races and it has taken until now to just have fun. Today when I was on the start line for this race, I had zero nerves and I was ready to go,” Buri said. “I used to be unable to eat before because I wasn’t realizing what it is all about. It is a race but it is fun.”

Lakeshore Catholic Track coach Austin Huh isn’t surprised by how well Buri has done in the steeplechase.

“Carolyn is an incredibly hard-working athlete. She balances her academics and athletics well and she is a high achiever in school and out on the track,” he said. “She works hard with her track team (Edge Sports) and she was really excited about her senior year, her last year here at Lakeshore. She wanted to make a really big push for OFSAA.”

Huh will miss Buri.

“She is a pleasure to coach and a dream athlete.”

The SOSSA meet continues Thursday at Centennial. Stay tuned to BPSN for results once the meet is complete.