Medicine Hat track athlete Kane-Rissling continues to dream big

She now lives in Edmonton, but continues to train as a member of the University of Calgary Athletics Club.

Long jump is the event she’s expect to be draft in, with triple jump not year part of the CTFL.

Earlier this month she finished in top spot for womens triple jump and long jump at the Alberta Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Events she had also competed at in Olympic Trials last year.

“I made the finals in triple jump, placed eleventh overall in Canada and represented Alberta in first. So that was pretty cool,” Kane-Rissling said.

“The next Olympics are four years away. So I still continue to dream big,” she added.

“Right now, I’m just focusing on what’s in front of me in the season ahead.”

Kane-Rissling will be heading to Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center training camp in San Diego for a training camp in preparation for the outdoor track season, along with her coach and two training partners.

“I’m super excited for this opportunity. I think it’s going to be really fun,” Kane-Rissling said.

“You stay at what is like the training center. So you’re right at the track. All services are available to you. They’re like athletic therapy, food, etc. Which is really nice.”

The 2024 UCAC Overall Female Athlete of the Year said the transition from student athlete to athlete is definitely a cultural shift.

“You go from having supports and being with your teammates every day to trying to make it with your club or train on your own,” Kane-Rissling said.

“In that transition from Calgary to Edmonton, I’ve been trying to navigate finding supports and getting services that I once had as a student athlete,” she added.

“It’s made the journey a lot more kind of rewarding in that sense, because you have the time and you can truly invest in yourself.”

Kane-Rissling adds it’s been challenging, but rewarding.

This shows her resilience, fitting with her sports mantra that he she has tattooed on her arm, “it’s 100% mental.”

Submitted Photo

Which she said has always gotten her through hardships and challenges.

I guess how impactful is it to know that there’s been athletes like Sage Watson to come out of Medicine Hat to be able to be at that level? Is that something you look at? Athletes like that have kind of inspired you over the years? Yeah, definitely. And even the community here, like

Kane-Rissling gives some credit to those in the community of Medicine Hat for helping her get to where to she is at.

“Everyone is so supportive and has been from the very beginning,” Kane-Rissling said.

“I even kudos my previous coach with the Bulldogs Track and Field, Sean Freeman, because he’s always inspired me and kept in touch to pursue those dreams beyond being in Medicine Hat, which I’ve been super grateful for.”

Going into it’s third season, the CTFL consists of four teams, the Bears, Huskies, Arctics and the Spitfires.

“It definitely provides athletes like myself who are no longer affiliated with a university to be able to continue the sport and kind of create a platform for themselves to build their brand and awareness of track and field across Canada,” Kane-Rissling said.

Kane-Rissling started track and field in 2016 and said it takes a community to aspire to these big, crazy dreams that she has.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat track athlete Kane-Rissling continues to dream big

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