(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS women’s track and field team is naming St. Adolphe, Manitoba, native and long sprinter Katrina Stefaniuk to its recruiting class of 2022.

Stefaniuk has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2022-2023 Atlantic University Sport season.

“Katrina comes to UNB from some strong club and school programs where her long-term development and a team-first philosophy are paramount,” said Chris Belof, the head coach of the REDS track and field and cross country teams. “Katrina is a hard-working student-athlete and exemplifies what our women’s team culture is about.”

“The REDS’ team spirit is what I noticed most about UNB,” said Stefaniuk. “Everyone was very kind and encouraging and I knew that that’s the kind of environment I would like to be a part of.”

The 17-year-old is a member of the Winnipeg Optimist Athletics Club and a graduate of Collège St. Norbert Collegiate, in Winnipeg.

In both 2018 and 2019, Stefaniuk competed at the Canadian Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships.

“I’m committed to my goals and I work hard to achieve them,” she said. “I’m always supportive of my teammates because I know that encouragement can go a long way.”

“Katrina will be a very important member of our women’s long sprint and relay programs,” said Coach Belof. “We’re very impressed with who she is across both sport and academics, and we expect that she’ll be a contributor on both the U SPORTS and AUS levels in the coming years.”

Stefaniuk says, during her time as a REDS student-athlete, she wants to become stronger, both mentally and physically, and is looking to improve her athletic abilities and achieve personal bests. 

Stefaniuk will study Arts and Science while attending UNB, with hopes of heading down the Neuroscience pathway in the future.

PHOTOS: Submitted