Rachel Francois was the runaway winner of the CIS female rookie of the year award in track and field with the University of Victoria Vikes.
The St. Albert speedster tore up the track as the national university 600-metre champion and anchored the Vikes' relay teams.
"It's really cool to receive an award like that," Francois said. "To be recognized for your success like that is huge. It's the most incredible feeling."
The Paul Kane High School graduate was honoured at the CIS awards banquet prior to nationals last weekend in Winnipeg. The Canada West first team all-star and rookie of the year beat out regional association nominees Anissa Owen of St. Mary's, Gabrielle Lebel of Sherbrooke and Sarah Swain of Windsor for the most outstanding freshman trophy.
"When they called my name I was so happy," Francois said. "It was the best way to start off the weekend. It made me really motivated to do really well."
Francois, 19, finished her university debut season undefeated over 600 metres after winning the national championship in a time of 1:30.19. The runner-up was Rachel Aubry of Guelph at 1:30.35.
"It wasn't a (personal best) but it was really close so I can't ask for anything else," Francois said. "I had to run it a little bit differently because usually I'm the person taking it out and being crazy. This time I had to think about what I was doing and run as smart as I possibly could and use the other people around me and it worked out really well."
Going into nationals Francois was ranked No. 2 in the country after winning the 600 metres at the Golden Bear Invitational in Edmonton at 1:32.05, the Bison Invitational in Winnipeg with a personal best of 1:30.15 and the Canada West championships at 1:31.38.
The 2011 Athletics Alberta junior female athlete of the year also carried the baton at nationals as the Vikes settled for silver in the 4x800 metres in 8:49.75 and placed fourth in the 4x400 metres with a new school record of 3:49.62
At the Canada West finals the Vikes won gold in the 4x800 metres in 8:55.43, which is second best all-time at the conference meet, and silver in the 4x400 metres in 3:52.66.
"We finished second to Guelph [at nationals in the 4x800 metres], which was very bittersweet because we were going in hoping to win," said Francois.
Fast finisher
The Edmonton Columbians Track and Field Club member also set personal bests in the 800 metres at 2:07.70 and 300 metres at 40.09 with the Vikes and was named the university's rookie athlete for the month of January.
"Rachel has quickly established herself as an elite CIS athlete," said Vikes head coach Brent Fougner. "In just her first year of varsity competition at UVic, she has already set three new school indoor records in the 300, 600 and as part of the 4x400 relay team, as well as a lifetime personal best in the 800."
A busy schedule of meets outside of CIS sanctioned events kept Francois on the fast track to success.
"It's been fun. I got to go to new meets. There are only two or three universities in Canada that have an 11-month program. I train with the school all year but we don't always race against other schools, it's just club kind of stuff," said the humanities student.
"It's just different running for a university team and I've been trying to take it for all its worth. I've been working on trying to get PBs. I've been learning how to train better and learning how to push myself more and more.
"Now I'm ready to see what else I can do this year."
The middle-distance runner will compete in the Olympic trials in Calgary and has a shot at making the U23 national team. High on her priority list for the outdoor season is the National Track League series in Canada and the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association circuit.
"It's going to be a year to see how fast I can get."
Last summer she finished second in the 800 metres at the Canadian junior championships to qualify for her first major international meet, the Pan American junior championships in Florida. She finished fourth there in the 800 metres in 2:08.38. She was also part of the Canadian 4x400 relay team that earned silver.
"It was a real good learning experience for me. It showed that I can compete at an international level," she said. "I didn't put any pressure on myself so I got to have a lot of fun and I ended up PBing in the 800 so that was good."
Francois also capped off an impressive high school career last spring with her fourth gold and fifth medal at provincials by winning the senior 800 metres. She is also the provincial high school intermediate 800 metre record holder at 2:12.89.
François went on to compete for Alberta at last summer's Western Canada Summer Games and won gold in the 400 and silver in the 800 and 4x400 relay.
"It was a good summer and I hope this summer is just as good."
