<h1><span lang=""style="font-size:37pt;">Country work ethic propels Steen in track</span></h1>

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Callie Steen runs the 3,000-metre race at SHSAA provincials.

A good old country work ethic helped Callie Steen excel quickly in track and field.

Going into her Grade 11 year at Hanley Composite School in the fall of 2021, Steen hadn’t been a regular in track and field or cross country running. She was a highly skilled water skier who had made trips to nationals in summer and a figure skater in winter months.

Around the time Steen was starting Grade 11, she was talked by a friend in Elizabeth Wright about getting into track and field and cross country running at the club level by joining the Riversdale Athletics Club based in Saskatoon. The Riversdale Athletics Club is one of a number of Saskatoon and area track clubs that does the bulk of its outdoor training at the Track and Field Track at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

Steen remembered that her initial results in cross country competitions weren’t anything that would light the world on fire, but she enjoyed running. Growing up on a family farm by Blackstrap Lake, Steen was always involved with helping out with farming activities. She wanted to see what would happen if she applied the work ethic she learned with her farm life to a new main sporting joy she discovered.

“I was getting like 42^nd in cross-country provincials,” said Steen. “I was just an average runner, but I really enjoy the work ethic involved in running.

“I grew up in agriculture, and I do 4-H. The lessons that have been taught through 4-H have helped me succeed in running just that everyday work ethic and drive. When I started running, I worked really hard at it.”

Within in a year, Steen was finding herself on or at the top of the podium in a lot of the events she competed in. She attended Athletes Canada’s Indoor U16-U18-U20 Championships in late March of 2022 in Sherbrooke, Que., and finished fourth in the under-18 female 1,500-metre run and 3,000-metre run.

Competing for Hanley Composition School at the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA) Track and Field Provincials held in Regina in June of 2022, Steen, who was 17-years-old at that time, won gold in the senior girls’ 1,500-metre race in a time of four minutes and 49.56 seconds. She claimed another gold in the senior girls’ 3,000-metre race in a time of 10:41.40.

In August of 2022, Steen competed at the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships in Sherbrooke, Que., which is the track and field nationals for athletes in the under-16 and under-18 age categories. In December of 2022, Steen signed on to join the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks Women’s Track and Field team, which competes in the NCAA Division I ranks.

Callie Steen signs with UND. (Photo courtesy Callie Steen)

The opportunity to join the Fighting Hawks came about due to work put in by Steen, who had always wanted to go to a university in the United States. After receiving some positive feedback from Riversdale Athletics Club head coach RossAnn Edwards about her track and field future, Steen set to work to ensure she was noticed by universities in the United States.

“Last August, my coach said I had a lot of potential, so I contacted pretty every single Division I school in the States,” said Steen, who stands 5-foot-7. “I sent out 50 emails, and I just gave them my times and a little bit about myself and what I believe in.

“I got lots of coaches feedback. It was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done. I chose North Dakota.

“I got to go on an official visit there. The coaching staff believes in me, and I believe in their program. I’m so excited to move in August.”

Steen said her parents in father, Dan, and mother, Erin, were the biggest influences on her work ethic. Along with her brother, Lane, Steen raised steers and took part in showing off those steers at 4-H competitions since she was eight years old. She said she learned about responsibility from those types of activities pretty quickly.

“I believe I got my work ethic from 4-H and the constant thing that the cows need to be fed before you get to eat,” said Steen. “You’re always working with them and putting them first.

“From a young age, that is what my parents have instilled in me is a harder work ethic will always beat every talent and everything else.”

When it comes to the world of track and field, Steen said Edwards has been her biggest mentor in showing her the way.

“RossAnn Edwards is the main reason I’m here today,” said Steen. “I love her so much.

Callie Steen runs the 1,500-metre race at SHSAA provincials.

“She has done everything for me, and I wouldn’t be here without her. She is the head coach of all of Riversdale. She loves us athletes like we are her children, and she does like anything for us.”

Steen said the workouts Edwards has the athletes at Riversdale do makes everyone at the club improve.

“I really believe in consistency,” said Steen, who turned 18-years-old this past January. “I don’t ever miss an off-day run or anything like that.

“I work really, really hard. I do strength training twice a week. My coach gives us these really hard workouts, but they are super beneficial.

“My teammates and I are always PBing (posting personal bests) because of those hard workouts.”

Steen wrapped up her high school track and field career at the SHSAA Track and Field Provincials held on June 2 and 3 at the Track and Field Track as she entered the final month of her Grade 12 school year closing in on graduation. She once again claimed gold in the senior girls’ 1,500-metre race with a time of 4:52.66 and took silver in the senior girls’ 3,000-metre race with a time of 10:44.91.

Steen said it was special to close out her high school career on what has become her home outdoor track at the Complex.

“It was a huge advantage when I found out that provincials were going to be here this year,” said Steen. “We’re here three times a week.

“It is the perfect track. I believe it is one of the best tracks in Saskatchewan. The facilities are great.

“To have like world class facilities right here in Saskatoon is huge.”

She added she did feel bittersweet knowing she had raced in her final high school competition. At the moment, she isn’t expecting to run another 1,500-metre race until she joins the Fighting Hawks in the fall. Knowing that tidbit, she was pleased to win gold in the 1,500-metre race at the SHSAA provincials.

Callie Steen plans to chase down big track and field dreams.

“It definitely put a smile on my face,” said Steen. “I’ve had some ups and downs this season.

“To finally see all my work start to pay off in the outdoor season is the most rewarding thing ever.”

Looking to the future, Steen said she has dreams about running in the Olympics one day. She knows there is a process to getting there, but she is willing to put in the work to make the steps to get to that point.

“Of course, it is always in the dreams in the back of my mind,” said Steen. “Right now, I would love to attend junior worlds.

“That would be my top goal right now is working towards being on that team.”