After graduating from Elphinstone Secondary School in 2009, Kendra Pomfret's track and field and cross-country career has certainly taken off - in a big way.
Now team captain and in her fourth year at the University of Victoria, Pomfret has set her sights high - running for Canada in the Summer Olympics in 2016 and 2020.
"Being team captain [at UVic] is a huge honour. Sure, it looks great on a resume, you often gain a higher acknowledgment from coaches, alumni, and various other authority figures, but the most rewarding part definitely stems from knowing that it was my teammates who originally elected me to the role," said Pomfret. "It's a lot of hard work behind the scenes, most of which goes without recognition, but I think that's what I like most about it.
"For as competitive as a person as I am, I always try and bring some laughter to every practice, and every competition. I think it's important to remind my teammates why we run in the first place -for the pure love of the sport."
Although she admits it can be really draining at times, she said she has enjoyed having the added expectations and responsibilities on her from her coaches and her teammates.
Pomfret has won many accolades the past few years. Recently she was awarded the Chancellor's Prize at UVic for athletic prowess and community service.
On the track, she won gold this year in the 1,000m at the Western Canadian University track championships and the 4x800 relay; won bronze in the 1000m at the Canadian University (CIS) national track championships, bronze in the 4x400 relay and gold in the 4x800 relay.
She was also a member of the Can West cross-country championship team.
"I've been really fortunate to be a part of UVic athletics, under the guidance of my head coach Brent Fougner who also doubles as one of the middle distance coaches for Athletics Canada," she said. "Coming out of high school, I don't think I had any clue what I was in for. I've always been a really dedicated and hard worker both academically and athletically, but training at this elite of a level has been eye opening to say the least. Finding a balance has definitely been the most crucial aspect to success, and no championship, personal best, or national title has come individually. For as individual of a sport as track and field is, I would be nowhere without my teammates, coaches and support staff."
She said winning the Chancellor's Prize in April was a huge honour.
"It sounds so cliché, but I really did not expect to win such a huge award, being nominated was huge on its own," she said. "When my name was called in a room full of 700 people, many of whom I respect and look up to greatly, I had this overwhelming sense of accomplishment. The nights where I had stayed up until 3 a.m. finishing papers, the long Sundays where I had wanted nothing more than to sleep in or see some friends outside of athletics rather than get up at 7 a.m. for my 90-minute long run, followed by a three-hour volunteer session, were suddenly even more worthwhile."
Most recently, Pomfret attended the Peyton Invitational track meet in Stanford, and is currently in Arizona for the next month at a High Altitude Training Camp (AC), then will compete in the National Training League series this summer - a high calibre meet circuit used to train Canada's hopeful national team members.
"The meet at Stanford was a great experience, but in the big picture, it wasn't more than a kick in the butt to get my season going," she said. "I had just come off of three weeks of hard exams and final papers, and in all honesty I was really fatigued both mentally and physically. It was awesome to race at such a brilliant facility among really talented athletes from all over the U.S., Mexico, and Canada."
Pomfret ran 2:10.00 which is easily three seconds off her current personal best.
"Definitely wasn't one to write home about, but it was just what I needed heading into training camp to get myself moving," she said.
With next year being her fifth and final season at UVic, Pomfret wants to go out with a bang. If all goes as planned she'll graduate next spring with a major in sociology, and a double minor in social justice and social health.
"Right now my eyes are set on representing Canada at the francophone games in Nice, France in September," she said.
In order to achieve this she will have to set a 2:05 time standard, and be top eight at nationals later this year in Moncton.
She also wants to take down the UVic one km record, currently held by her coach's wife Trish Fougner with a current time of 2:45.15. Pomfret's personal best is 2:48:12.
"Three seconds in a km is a lot, but I know I am capable of doing it. I just need to get into a more competitive, less tactical race where I can race the clock, not the championship sit and kick title," she said.
Another record she wants more than anything is the CIS 4x800 record with her teammates.
Once university is over, she plans to move down to Phoenix and train full time with the AC group to take a run at the 2016 Olympics.
"The word 'Olympics' reminds me a lot of the word love. People don't say it unless they mean it, and it takes a long time before you are comfortable saying it out loud," Pomfret said. "I'm still young for the sport, especially as a female. Women usually peak in running in their mid to late 20s. But yes, absolutely, 2016 and 2020 are my ultimate life goals.
"My late father used to always tell me, "if you want to run with the bulldogs, don't piss like a pup." I may not have the Olympic standards yet, but I am certainly proving to my coaches and myself as time goes on that I can compete with the best, and I will do whatever it takes to get there. At the very least I will know that at this rate, I'm giving it all I have and loving it every step of the way."
She said she feels lucky to be training at Altitude with some of the best athletes in the world.
"This training camp is awesome because it allows me to slow down my usual frantic lifestyle and focus solely on running and recovery for 3.5 weeks," she said. "I have a week left, and I am already feeling fitter than ever and super excited to see what the outdoor season brings."
And her success isn't just do to her hard work, her support system back at home is something that she holds close to her heart.
"I don't think my mom in particular realizes how much I appreciate everything she does for me: editing papers, flying all the way to Edmonton with my grandma from Ottawa to watch CIS, helping me financially anyway she can, just for being my mom and my biggest supporter," Pomfret said. "It's so neat coming from such a small town, even though I don't get back to visit often and knowing how much support is behind me and other athletes, artists, musicians, etc. who are pursuing their dreams. I'll definitely always be a Creeker at heart, running around in my gumboots and tearing up havoc anyway I can."
