Airdrie's Sienna MacDonald on track with heptathlon
Sienna MacDonald grew up playing a lot of different sports in high school and she was very good at all of them.
MacDonald's basketball coach noticed and offered a suggestion.
"I played soccer, basketball and prior to that I did gymnastics," the 19-year-old said.
"One day my basketball coach was like Sienna you're really fast. You need to try track."
BIGGEST WIN OF HER CAREER
MacDonald listened to her coach's advice and decided to try heptathlon. It was a good decision. Heptathlon combines six disciplines: the 100 metre hurdles, the 100 and 800 metres, the high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin.
Last week in Langley, B.C. MacDonald scored the biggest victory of her career, winning the Canadian championship.
MacDonald was the best of the best in Canada and said it was a thrill to take home the title.
MacDonald was the best of the best in Canada and said it was a thrill to take home the title.
"It meant everything," she said.
"Going in there was a lot of pressure. It was probably the biggest meet I've ever been to. I was there with a lot of big names so winning it I was ecstatic!"
GRAMATIK LIKES WHAT HE SEES
MacDonald works with veteran coach Les Gramantik. He's coached a lot of very talented athletes and said MacDonald is one of the best talents he's had in a long time.
Gramantik said the victory will give MacDonald a lot of confidence going forward.
"I kept emphasizing that you have to appreciate the opportunity that was given to you to compete at this level and to be able to win at this level," Gramantik said.
"This is something that you've accomplished and no one can take it away from you. For the rest of your life you're a Canadian champion, even if you're not going to do it again."
NO TIME TO CELEBRATE
MacDonald didn't have much time to celebrate her big victory. On Tuesday she was back training at Foothills Athletic Park to get ready for another meet Wednesday at Foothills.
MacDonald said she's okay with that.
"Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be interesting," she said.
"It’s a four hour meet and I've got four events to do so it's going to be a long day. My legs might hurt a little bit but it will be okay."
SIGHTS SET ON THE OLYMPICS IN THE FUTURE
She isn't on the national team yet but has her sights set on making the team.
This summer she'll be heading to Niagara, Ontario to compete for Alberta at the Canada Summer Games. Beyond that, MacDonald said she has a very big goal she'd like to reach one day soon.
"Big end goal like obviously every athletes dream is going to the Olympics," she said. "So hopefully one day I'll make it there."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Sheldon Keefe
The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that Sheldon Keefe has been relieved of his duties as head coach.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.