Dawson Mann and Amy Stieh named Under Armour U Sports Athletes of the Week
Dawson Mann of Sanford, Man., headlines our Athlete of the Week award with the fastest U Sports 600m time in the country
Canadian Running and Under Armour have teamed up for the 2024 Canadian U Sports indoor track and field season to highlight some of the top homegrown talents across the country. Each week, leading up to the 2024 U Sports Indoor Track and Field Championships in Winnipeg next month, Canadian Running will select one male and female track and field athlete as the Under Armour Athlete of the Week.
The award will go to a male and female U Sports track and field athlete who achieved a standout performance, broke a school record or crushed a personal best. These athletes will be featured on Canadian Running and awarded an Under Armour prize pack featuring the new UA Infinite Elite training shoe. This week we highlight another two sensational athletes: middle-distance runner Dawson Mann of the University of Manitoba and sprinter Amy Stieh of Lakehead University, for their performances between Jan. 29 and Feb. 4.
Female Athlete of the Week: Amy Stieh–women’s 300m
At the Jim Daly Bison Classic in Manitoba last weekend, Amy Stieh of Thunder Bay, Ont., won the women’s 300m in a season’s best time of 39.84. Although her time fell short of her school’s program record set at the same meet in 2020, she still claimed victory in the short sprint by more than a second.
Stieh, who typically focuses on the 400m distance, has shifted her attention to the longer 600m event this U Sports indoor season. “It’s exciting to see that I can run some fast 300m times,” says Stieh. “It was a good race. I was able to execute the race plan for where I am in the season right now.”
With the 2024 Canadian U Sports Track and Field Championships in Winnipeg just a month away, Stieh aims to compete in the 300m/600m double and hopes to win one or more medals. “I want to medal in the 600m. It’ll be a fast group of girls, so I am excited to be part of it,” says Stieh. I also think we have a good chance to medal in the sprint relays. So far this year, we’ve broken the school record in the 4×200 and 4×400 multiple times,” she says.
Next year will mark Stieh’s final year competing for the Lakehead Thunderwolves, but she plans to continue competing post-collegiately. “I want to run for Team Canada internationally in the 400m,” says Stieh. “Right now, I’m just going to enjoy the process, and then see what I can do on the outdoor circuit.”
Male Athlete of the Week: Dawson Mann–men’s 600m
University of Manitoba runner Dawson Mann has been dominant this season. He has won three of his last four races and ran the fastest 600m time of the 2024 U Sports season, clocking 1:18.53 at the Jim Daly Bison Classic last weekend. Mann’s time was an indoor personal best and his fastest time on a 200m track.
Despite posting the fastest U Sports time this season and being the top-ranked runner in the 600m event, Mann was still “frustrated” with his performance. “I wanted to lead the race from the start and run 1:17, but I was in second at the cut-in and had to wait until the final lap [of three] to make a move,” he says. “I’m still happy to get the win, and in a personal best time.”
Mann has set lofty goals for this season, especially with the U Sports championships taking place at his home track in Winnipeg. “Last year I finished fourth in the 600m, so this year I want to be on the podium,” Mann says. “I’m shooting for gold in the 600m, gold in the 4x400m, and gold in the 4x800m.”
Looking beyond this season, he plans on joining the Canadian Track and Field League (CTFL) and competing at the Bell Olympic Track and Field trials in Montreal in June. “My main goal will just be to continue to lower my personal bests in the 400m and the 800m,” says Mann.
Max Davies and Audrey Leduc named Under Armour U Sports Athletes of the Week
If you would like to nominate a Canadian U Sports athlete for Under Armour Athlete of the Week, send @canadianrunning a message on Instagram or email marley@runningmagazine.ca.
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
