Her breath bursts from her in white puffs, the chill wind whipping her clothes. The snow crunches with each fluorescent shoe that falls.
The Lethbridge College Kodiaks have one more set of gold medals to add to its trophy case and Sophia Nowicki, team captain, earned a bronze for her collection.
Nowicki and the Kodiaks women’s cross-country team became national champions, winning the team gold medal at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships in Grand Prairie on Nov. 9.
This wasn’t Nowicki’s first national championship medal. In 2018, she came away from the CCAAs with gold.
Growing up, Nowicki was one of those kids that tried every sport when they were young.
“It was the main thing I kind of stuck with… I definitely didn’t think I’d carry it over after high school,” said Nowicki.
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She started running seriously when she joined the cross-country team at St. Timothy Junior/Senior High School in Calgary in the seventh grade.
The bronze medallist wants to continue running cross-country as she continues her schooling.
“I’m so happy I’m able to do cross country here because there’s no cross-country team at the [university]. Next year I’m going to be at the university for nursing and I really hope I can continue running here because I love the cross-country team,” said Nowicki.
She is currently focusing more on indoor track because of the university’s lack of cross-country.
Her studies are currently Nowicki’s highest priority.
“I remember going home and thinking to myself I need to put my education first, because that’s why I’m here. I remember thinking to myself if you want to take my scholarship, I don’t care, but I’m here for school. I’d be heartbroken if you took me off the team, but I don’t care about the scholarship. That’s when I realized obviously there’s more, I’m not doing it for the money,” she said.
Running is a form of stress relief for Nowicki – even when she had to miss practice, she’d often go on runs by herself while taking a break from studying.
Nowicki’s captainship of the team had a positive effect on her coaches and teammates.
“Her determination, her hard work sort of drives and pulls along everyone on the team,” said Simon Schaerz, head coach.
