Female Athlete of the Week

Fifth-year track and field athlete Jan Stirling was a member of the women’s 4 x 200-metre and 4 x 400-metre relay teams that placed fourth and sixth respectively at the CIS Championships last weekend in Windsor.

The national championships were the fifth year civil engineering student’s last race, capping a successful season in which she won a pair of gold medals at the Kane Memorial Track and Field Meet at Cornell University in Ithica, N.Y. and two bronze medals at the OUA Track and Field Championships in Toronto.

“It’s sad that it’s the end, but it was really good to finish off on a high note,” Stirling said.

She said the pressure of championship races makes her faster.

“There’s a lot more pressure but you just channel it into your race, it never effects negatively,” she said. “It’s something you try to work towards.”

Stirling has only been on track and field team for three of her five years at Queen’s, after missing competition in second year because of illness and in third year while on exchange in Singapore.

She said the team has progressed since her rookie year.

“The team right now is very strong in all event groups, while in the past only the distance has been strong, or short has been strong,” she said. “We’re just a stronger group of athletes. Every sport goes in cycles and right now track is pretty strong.” The Nova Scotia native said despite being absent from competition for two years, she still remained a part of the team. She’s been a team captain for each of the past two years.

She said the pressures of varsity athletics force her to live a balanced lifestyle.

“One of my favourite parts at Queen’s is being a student athlete,” she said. “It helps you balance your time. It’s something physical rather than studying all the time.”

Stirling said she’s involved in track outside of interuniversity competition. The runner came fifth in the 400-metre hurdles event representing Nova Scotia in the Canada games in Prince Edward Island.

What reality show do you most want to go on?

Amazing Race.

Team’s favourite movie to watch on the bus?

I don’t know. We don’t really watch movies more than once.

Most won on roll-up the rim?

I have never won.

What did you do on St. Patrick’s day?

I went out with my friends.

One sneeze, two sneezes, or several?

I think I’m a three-sneezer.

De Niro or Pacino?

Robert De Niro.

Best show on TV?

Big Bang Theory.

Best late-night food spot in Kingston?

Bubba’s.

Sport you most want to try?

Bobsledding.