Before she has even run her first high school cross country race, Sawyer Nicholson is already competing with the pros. At just 13 years old, the Ontario athlete is demonstrating that talent, determination, and sportsmanship can make a difference in any race. And what better way to highlight Canadian talent than to celebrate it?
Read on!
On September 7, Nicholson competed in the Constantine Yorkville Run in Toronto. Among more than a thousand participants, combining both men's and women's fields, she placed 25th overall. Remarkably, the only women to finish ahead of her were Julie-Anne Staehli, Laura Desjardins, and Emily Setlack. Staehli is a professional New Balance athlete and 2020 Olympian in the 5,000m, the Canadian indoor 2-Mile record holder, and one of the fastest Canadian women ever across multiple distances. Desjardins and Setlack are also members of Canada's national team. Finishing just behind such elite company at her age sends a clear message: Nicholson belongs on this stage.
2025 has continued to be a breakthrough year for Sawyer. She has set personal bests across multiple distances, including a 4:32.39 1500m, a 9:56.49 3000m, a 5:04.40 mile, and a 6:21.15 2000m. This ongoing success builds on an already impressive resume. She holds numerous U16 provincial records, and in 2023, she set an age-group world record at the Niagara Falls International Marathon 5K with a time of 17:28.
Sawyer represents the future of Canadian running. She combines speed with composure and competitiveness with generosity. As she begins her high school career, there is no doubt she will continue to impress and inspire.
Canada's next generation of athletes is emerging, and Nicholson is leading the way.
MileSplitBC loves to celebrate all Canadian talent. Stay tuned as more stories continue to unfold.
Before she has even run her first high school cross country race, Sawyer Nicholson is already competing with the pros. At just 13 years old, the Ontario athlete is demonstrating that talent, determination, and sportsmanship can make a difference in any race. And what better way to highlight Canadian talent than to celebrate it?
Read on!
On September 7, Nicholson competed in the Constantine Yorkville Run in Toronto. Among more than a thousand participants, combining both men's and women's fields, she placed 25th overall. Remarkably, the only women to finish ahead of her were Julie-Anne Staehli, Laura Desjardins, and Emily Setlack. Staehli is a professional New Balance athlete and 2020 Olympian in the 5,000m, the Canadian indoor 2-Mile record holder, and one of the fastest Canadian women ever across multiple distances. Desjardins and Setlack are also members of Canada's national team. Finishing just behind such elite company at her age sends a clear message: Nicholson belongs on this stage.