Our Athletes

Gabrielle Edwards (She/Her), a Riversdale Athletics alumna, excelled in middle-distance running and achieved noteworthy milestones. She qualified for the Youth Olympic Games in the 3000m and secured multiple medals at both national and provincial levels, setting several records. Gabrielle was also an international triathlete, competing in two world championships and winning various medals at Pan American and North American Championships.

Besides her athletic prowess, Gabrielle made meaningful contributions as a Riversdale coach. Her time at the club profoundly impacted her personal and academic growth. After retiring from athletics, Gabrielle completed her PhD in sustainable food education at the University of British Columbia. She now works as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, focusing on food and climate action. Gabrielle remains deeply committed to volunteerism, a value cultivated during her Riversdale years. Like Payne, she credits Riversdale for her successes in both athletics and life.

Quincy Fast joined Riversdale in 2017 and excelled in high school, earning 2nd place in the 800m at Legion Youth Nationals and 8th place at the U20 National Championships. Memorable experiences with the club include trips to Kenya, Simplot Games, Kingston, and Montreal, where he gained diverse training insights and formed lasting friendships. Post-high school, Quincy earned scholarships and ran for the University of Montana in the NCAA for three years. He qualified for the 2021 NCAA prelims with an 800m time of 1:49.8. He now competes for the University of Saskatchewan in USports, where he's a Canada West Conference 1000m champion and holds the Saskatchewan record for the event at 2:22.1. Quincy continues to represent Riversdale nationally and serves as a developmental coach for the club in the winter.

Rachael joined Riversdale’s cross country and mid-distance group in 2000 as a nine-year-old Pee Wee. During 10 plus years of competing, she represented Riversdale in numerous provincial and national cross country and track and field championships. She also competed in triathlon for her Provincial and National teams. Highlights of her career include setting an 800m Jr. girls provincial high school record, setting Saskatoon high school city records for the 800m, 1500m, and 3,000m across age groups, representing Team Canada at the 2009 World Jr Elite Triathlon Championships in Australia and the 2012 World University Triathlon Championships in Taiwan. Rachael also competed for the U of S Huskies at several National Cross Country Championships and CanWest Track and Field and Championships. Rachael began coaching for Riversdale near the end of her racing career and did so until she moved for graduate school in the UK. She has continued to support Riversdale from afar in any way she can. Rachael has gone on to attain her PHD and is now a full-time researcher in public health in London, UK.

Payne Wylie spent eight years with Riversdale Athletics, where he refined his hurdling skills, starting in 2012. He represented the club at prestigious meets like the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York and the Simplot Games in Pocatello. After high school, he attended Eastern Michigan University for a social work degree, competing against top-level athletes. Payne is a two-time conference champion in the 110m hurdles and has three consecutive D1 conference titles. Like Quincy, Payne found Riversdale to be a transformative platform, offering expert coaching and a team atmosphere that led to enduring friendships. He echoes the sentiment that Riversdale is an ideal training ground for both athletic and personal development.

Joel Senick competed with Riversdale Athletics from 1999-2012. Through the years he set a number of provincial age-class records in the 300m and 400m events. Senick attended Boston University, where he set a school record in the 500m and was a member of an outdoor 4x400m relay team that also set a school record. He currently is a sprint coach for CalTaf Athletics in Calgary, Alberta.

Kelsie Hendry, a celebrated Canadian pole vaulter, is an illustrious alumna of the Riversdale Athletics Club. She made history as the first female athlete from Saskatoon to represent Canada at the Olympics. Kelsie's journey to glory began gaining traction when she secured a top-ten finish at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where she soared to a height of 4.15 metres in women's pole vault. In 2008, she smashed records by clearing 4.55 metres, setting both a personal and a national record. This triumph secured her a spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Heading towards the 2012 London Olympics, Kelsie had already surpassed the Olympic A-standard height of 4.50 metres. Apart from her athletic conquests, she earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Saskatchewan, continuously training. Kelsie Hendry’s legacy remains an inspiring chapter in the annals of Riversdale Athletics Club.