The best of both worlds: Training with U of R Cougars helps triathletes hit personal bests

Four high-performance student-athletes who focus primarily on triathlons, are very much at home training with the University of Regina Cougars.

Nataliia Kolesova, a fourth-year kinesiology student, is on the Cougars swim team. Her Triathlon Saskatchewan teammates Molly Lakustiak, a Luther College science student, Kaelen Kolb, a Campion College arts student, and Reece Gilbert, in the Faculty of Education, are members of the Cougars track and field and cross country teams.

All four train primarily under Brendan Mackenzie, head of Triathlon Saskatchewan’s high-performance division. Mackenzie works closely with Cougars swim coach Craig Nieuwstad and track and cross country distance coach Steve Davis.

“I think it’s really important for these four Triathlon Saskatchewan student-athletes to have the opportunity to continue to pursue a sport at a U SPORTS level,” says Mackenzie. “The coaching is top-notch.”

Kolesova, who has been competing seriously in triathlon for the past five years, considered going to university in the United States, where it’s a National Collegiate Athletic Association sport.

In the end, she chose to stay in Regina, specifically, because of the support she receives in her training across the board.

“Staying at home is always so, so, so much easier,” says Kolesova, who credits her family, as well as her U of R and Saskatchewan Triathlete Cougars coaches and fellow athletes for creating an environment in which she has been able to excel.  “Why change anything if everything’s going well? I have a good team around me here.”

Kolesova represented Canada last fall at the International University Sports Federation’s World University Triathlon Championship in Maceio, Brazil, finishing 28th in the sprint-distance race, which includes a 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run.

She says the training at the varsity level - specifically for the swim portion of the competition - has contributed to her success.

“The biggest thing for me swimming with the Cougars swim team is I am by far not the fastest person,” Kolesova says. “Having better people around me, people who specialize in that sport and who train for swimming, has been great to push me outside of my comfort zone.”

As her Cougars swim coach, Nieuwstad says he has to be cognizant of both her cross-training schedule and unique needs.

“You’ve got to be able to work with them,” he says. “Know how they’re feeling and adapt.”

Kolesova isn’t always able to train with or compete for the Cougars, but when she can, she gives her all and clocked her 100m, 400m and 800m swim personal bests (PBs) at the Canada West meet, the conference championship for universities based in the western provinces.

The biggest thing for me swimming with the Cougars swim team is I am by far not the fastest person. Having better people around me, people who specialize in that sport and who train for swimming, has been great to push me outside of my comfort zone.
Nataliia Kolesova, 4^th-year kinesiology student, triathlete, and Regina Cougars swim team member

From a distance-running perspective, Cougars coach Davis says the swimming and biking cross-training works out well.

“They’re able to handle a lot more mileage,” he says. “I think it allows them to handle the stress of running quite well.”

Lakustiak, who has been building her speed up with the Cougars during the indoor track season, says it’s been exciting to be a part of a varsity team. She, too, has begun collecting PBs. This month, she broke into the Canada West top 12 in the 1000m and 1,500m runs.

“The varsity environment is just super welcoming and just overall more fun,” Lakustiak says, also noting that the high calibre of the athletes around her push her to be better.

“Being able to do both is, I think, the best thing that could happen.”

Lakustiak, an important relay team member, will be able to compete for the U of R at Canada West, but will miss the USPORTs national finals due to her triathlon schedule.

“It’s more important that she’s getting the opportunity to excel at her sport,” says Davis, who is understanding of his athletes’ priorities. “There are opportunities to have your cake and eat it, too.”

Find out more about the University of Regina Cougars!

Lakustiak, Gilbert, and Kolb will be competing at a Continental Cup in Sarasota, Florida on March 5.

Kolesova has the Super League Triathlon Arena Games coming up in Montréal on Feb. 25. She will then compete in Continental Cups, as well, but in Villarrica, Chile on March 5 and Pucón, Chile on March 12.

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