Wombat Hall of Fame

This page is letting people know about the successes of our program. Developmentally speaking, the athletes in our group get an excellent foundation so that they can continue to grow into fine, high-calibre athletes as they move past high school. All of the athletes listed below spent their high school years in our group, and some a few years longer. Some of these athletes had not run before joining the group. There are countless athletes who have run with distinction at national and local competitions. Sadly, not all can be listed.

The athletes listed below have been inducted into the Wombat Hall of Fame at two levels, emblematic of the following achievements (* means still active):

Order of the Wombat

Criteria are as follows:

  1. National team members
  2. National champions (including relays)
  3. Meritorious performances/contributions/accomplishments while in the group or post-group to athletics

High school

Highlights

Erin Teschuk

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St. Mary’s Academy
2016 Canadian Olympian (Rio), steeplechase;
2015 World Championships, Beijing;
2-time Canadian champion in steeplechase;
7-time All-American at North Dakota State University;
5-time medalist at Canadian Legion Championships;
Psychology Degree – NDSU

Where is she now?
Erin is competing for VicCity Elite in Victoria, BC

Jennie Baragar-Petrash

JennieWC

Grant Park High School
2015 World XC Championships, Guiyang;
2016 Canadian Junior XC team, Venezuela;
2016 3rd Canadian U20 Championships 1500m;
2013 Canadian U16 Champion 1200m;
Many time provincial champion.

Where is she now?
Senior at University of Arizona on scholarship.

Cecilia Howes *

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Kelvin High School
National (U18) NACAC Team member 2019, steeplechase (Silver medalist!);
Silver medalist at 2019 Canadian Track & Field Championships in the 3000m steeplechase, (10:47.19);
Bronze medalist at the 2019 Canadian Legion Youth Championships in the 2000m steeplechase, (7:02.61);
Provincial record holder in U18 (6:51.97) and U20 (10:47.19) steeplechase;
Ranked as high as 14th in the world this year in the U18 steeplechase.

Where is she now?
On break! About to begin preparations for Cross Country 2019.

Jack Taylor *

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St. Paul’s High School
Bronze medalist at the 2019 Canadian Track & Field Championships in the 800m (1:53.16)
Member of the 2019 USport Champion University of Manitoba 4x800m relay team; All-Canadian honours.
2018 MHSAA Champion in cross country, 1500m and 3000m

Where is he now?
Jack is beginning second year at the University of Manitoba.

Andrea Grove

AGHOF

Shaftesbury High School
2-time Canadian Legion silver medalist 1500m (1988-9);
2-time Canadian Legion bronze medalist 800m (1988-9);
1996 All-American – University of Minnesota (1500m);
Ran professionally for Track Mountain West;
Won the 2008 Olympic Trials for the 10000m;
Francophonie Games Team;
Cross country coach for Iowa Cyclones women; leading them to NCAA’s for almost a decade.
Head cross country coach for University of North Carolina.
Business degree – University of Minnesota 

Where is she now?
Head coach at University of Toledo.

Suzanne Binne *

SueHuse

Glenlawn Collegiate
1990 – 3rd Canadian Legion Championships (3000m);
All Canadian CIAU 3000m for the University of Manitoba;
Ran professionally for Track Mountain West;
World Cross Country Championships Canadian team member;
2-time Ekiden Relay team member
World class triathlete; won the Taiwan Triathlon at the age of 44 in 2019.
Registered Dietician – University of Manitoba

Where is she now?
Preparing for Kona!

Levi Neufeld *

Neuf

Kelvin High School
Superb performance in the 1500m running 3:44.88; fastest time by a Wombat or alumnus… Quebec, 2018
Completed a fine university career at Trinity Western University;
BC Provincial Junior Cross Country Champion as a freshman at TWU;
Dominated the MHSAA in cross country and track while in high school.

Where is he now?
Finishing his education degree at Trinity Western University.

Sarah Huebert

SarahHofF

St. Mary’s Academy
5-time Academic All-Canadian at the University of Manitoba;
Raced at CIS for five years as a member of relay teams;
Canada Games Team member 400m and 4x400m;
Ran with the Wombats a total of nine years, through high school and university;
Masters Degree in Social Work (UBC)

Where is she now?
Social worker; writing proposals to promote positive social change in Vancouver, BC

Companion of the Order of the Wombat

Criteria are as follows:

  1. National medalists not listed above.
  2. Athletes who have medaled at national competitions on relay teams (silver or bronze).
  3. Provincial record holders in individual events.

High school

Highlights

Noah Hoffman *

NoahBronze

Vincent Massey Collegiate (Winnipeg)
Noah ran the second leg of the Manitoba Bisons 4 x 400m relay at USports National Championships held in Edmonton, March, 2020.  The team won bronze!
He has personal bests of 48.21 in the 400m, 34.95 in the 300m, and 22.48 in the 200m.

Where is he now?
Noah is in third year at the University of Manitoba; he has 3 years remaining of eligibility.

Erin Valgardson *

ErinHOF

Kelvin High School
Erin won the silver medal in the midget 800m at National Legions in Quebec.
The following year she was fourth at Legions in the 1500m
June 2018 – Finished her high school career undefeated in the MHSAA XC Championships and the 1500m MHSAA Track and Field Championships.

Where is she now?
Sophomore on scholarship at North Dakota State University

James Teschuk *

James

St. Paul’s High School
James won a bronze medal with Team MB-NWO at the National Legions in Ottawa running a very strong 200m leg.

Where is he now?
Competing with the University of Manitoba Bisons, in his fourth year of studies.

Margrett Watt *

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Garden City Collegiate
At the 2019 Canadian Legion Youth Championships, Margrett won the bronze medal in the 1500m in a time of 4:34.25!
She was fourth overall in the 2000m steeplechase at the same meet.
Margrett is the current record holder in the 1500m steeplechase in Manitoba. [5:06.38]
She has a personal best in the 2000m steeplechase of 6:53.25.
Ranked as high as 17th in the world (U18 steeplechase)

William Boyle *

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Garden City Collegiate
At the 2019 Canadian Legion Youth Championships, William won the bronze medal in the 2000m steeplechase in a time of 6:05.95!
He has also broken the Manitoba U18 steeplechase record July 12, 2019 with a time of 6:01.77, breaking the previous record by two seconds.

Daniel Turon *

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Oak Park High School
Daniel received a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay at Canadian National Legion Youth Championships August 11, 2019.
He ran an excellent second leg, dramatically fighting off Nova Scotia to maintain the team’s position.

Michelle Hebert

Michelle

Collège Sturgeon Heights Collegiate
Legion National medalist. Bronze Medalist 80m hurdles;
Many time provincial champion and record holder.
Bachelor of Arts, University of British Columbia

Where is she now?
Office manager.

Catherine Cantin

Catherine

St. John’s Ravenscourt
Legion National medalist. Bronze medal 2000m steeplechase.
Kinesiology Degree – University of Victoria

Where is she now?
Personal trainer

Joshua Gonzalez

JoshG

Garden City Collegiate
Josh received the silver medal in the 1500m steeplechase as National Legions as a U16 athlete.
6th in the 1200m at the same championships.