Looking at how she’s progressed over a short period of time, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility to see Cassidy Bouchard on the national scene one day.
The 18-year-old Notre Dame High School star was dominant at the provincial high school track and field championships, winning four gold. She will now be competing at the Canadian U20 championships in Ottawa at the end of July.
Bouchard will likely compete in the 400 and 400-metre hurdles at the Nationals with a goal of finishing in the medals.
“My goal is to make the Junior National team one day,” she said. “My goal is for them to see me at the Nationals and for me to get a foot in the door and go from there.”
Cassidy took a step in the right direction at the provincial high school finals, winning the senior girls 400m in a time of 56.32 seconds, which reached the national U20 standard.
“That was a goal going in,” she said. “Reaching that standard means you don’t have to compete in the preliminary races, you go directly to the heats.”
Cassidy dominated the 400m, winning by 3.75 seconds. She also won the 200m in 25.13 seconds (25.43 was second), the Open 300m hurdles in 45.48 seconds (46.66 placed second) and teamed with Paige Zinger, Georgia Stevens and Aurelia Kozoletova to win the 4x100m relay in 50.43 seconds (50.60 placed second).
Bouchard has come a long way since Grade 10.
“I competed in the provincials the last two years but only medaled in the relay, not individually,” she said. “In fact, in grade 10 I didn’t make the provincials in the 200, and this year I won gold. It’s crazy the difference.”
Cassidy credits meeting coach Ron Hewer when she was in Grade 11 for where she is today.
“A friend of mine introduced me to him last year and I joined his club during the year and just kept going. He’s the reason I’m where I am today, he’s a phenomenal coach.”
Hewer runs a speed school.
“He keeps it smaller with only about 15 to 20 sprinters in the club,” explained Bouchard. “We work out three times a week and we have individual workouts for each of us. We have our own plan for what we really need to do. It makes a big difference in that you’re not with everyone doing the same workout no matter what you run.”
Cassidy has always been involved in sports, competing in rugby, badminton, team handball and volleyball, while also competing in track. But she didn’t take track seriously until meeting Hewer.
“Last year I was playing volleyball and was leaning towards that and he changed my whole mindset and gave me a future path. He’s made all the difference and the reason I got a scholarship.”
Bouchard accepted a scholarship to Newberry University in South Carolina.
“It pays 75 percent and based on your times and grades that can increase during the year,” she explained.
She did receive several other offers including one from St. Cloud State in Minnesota and one from New Mexico.
“My coach dealt with them,” she said. “He looked at the weather and how much they offered and they have a good hurdles coach.”
Cassidy will concentrate on middle distance running, including the 400m hurdles.
“I enjoy the hurdles,” she said. “When you nail them, you have a great feeling.”
Cassidy had to laugh, looking back, when she first became involved with hurdles.
“In Grade 10 I ran the 200 and 400 and my school asked me to compete in the 300m hurdles and I wasn’t totally a fan,” she said. “I didn’t know then it was my future. But I made it to provincials in Grade 11 and became a fan.”
Cassidy is five-foot-six, but the height of the hurdles at the top levels suits her.
“The hurdles at the 400m level is 30-inches so you don’t have to be overly tall,” she said, adding that she enjoys 400m hurdles compared to the 200m hurdles.
“There’s more strategy in the 400 in that over the first 200 you conserve your energy then push over the final 200, while in the 200 you push the whole way,” she explained.
With a medal at the Nationals on the back of her mind, Cassidy is working to be in top shape.
“I expect close competition in both of my events ... challenging,” she said. “So I’ve been pushing myself in the gym and on the track to be ready.”
That level of conditioning will benefit her once she arrives at Newberry University, where she has goals.
“Ideally I’d like to win gold, or at least place at the conference finals and go to nationals. That’s my goal.”
Her future goal could one day take her to the Olympics.
“That’s always in the back of my mind,” she said.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at dannyrode@telus.net
