The Northeast Alberta Track (NEAT) team has experienced some great success over the years, with many talented young athletes joining and competing for their club every year. A core of dedicated coaches helps these athletes realize success, but it is one of these coaches that has personally achieved her own success lately - Beata Swiegocka.
Swiegocka was a talented track athlete in her native country of Poland. In 2002, she was participating in the National Track and Field Championship when head coach Dennis Mitchell from the University of Akron in the U.S. approached her and offered her a full scholarship.
Beata admits that she had no idea at the time that making that decision would bring all the way to St. Paul. “I was extremely fortunate, I remember late that summer I was getting ready to leave, I never thought that making the decision to come to Akron would have had such a huge impact on my life.”
While attending the University of Akron, Swiegocka had a career that can only be described as stellar. A five time all-American, she competed for Akron against athletes from other American universities from 2003-06 in track meets across the U.S. In addition, she won 14 MAC (Mid-American Conference) Championship titles, the most ever won in the school’s history.
She still has four records standing with the school.
Beata was recently inducted into the University of Akron’s sports hall of fame, a huge honour for anyone competing for an American University. When asked about how much this honour means to her, Coach Swiegocka was very proud, yet humble in her answer.
“I have worked very hard to achieve this and I always strived to represent the University of Akron in the best possible way. This honour is recognition of hard work and dedication to the sport not only for me, but also my coaches that have helped me throughout those years and the entire team. It is a huge privilege.”
Beata studied Business Administration/International Business while attending Akron.
Ten years later, Beata is now using her passion and skills in track and field to help train the young athletes of the NEAT organization. There is an interesting story behind how Beata found her way to St. Paul, joking that she was “looking for the coldest place in Alberta.”
The real story starts after her graduation from Akron.
“I met my husband Daniel right after graduation, he was already getting ready to move to Canada at that point, so as a couple, we decided to move north. I found a job through the internet with B&D Industrial Services, and with great help from the company I came to St. Paul.”
She hopes to pass on what she learns to the youth, so they can achieve what she accomplished during her track career. “I hope that this will help the kids see that track and field is not only a fun activity, but it could also bring some great opportunities for them; and I’m very happy to help them achieve just that.”
NEAT head Coach Reg Green notified the athletes of the NEAT team about Beata’s award.
“The first practice back, the kids surprised me with congratulations and a gift presentation, it was heart warming,” she says.
After a career in sports that few people achieve, Swiegocka now dedicates her time to educate and coach the next generation of young athletes, so that they can go on to do great things just as their coach did.
