Star hurdler reconnects with community at Track and Field Track
Written by Darren Steinke
“Hey Savannah. Can I have your autograph?”
That was the common humous line sent Savannah Sutherland’s way from those she knows at the Track and Field Track on Wednesday. Sutherland, who recently set the Canadian and NCAA records in the 400-metre women’s hurdles, was back training on her old stomping grounds during the afternoon session that contained a mix of athletes from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Saskatoon’s club teams.
It is safe to say all the athletes at that session knew Sutherland won the gold medal race of the 400-metre women’s hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in a time of 52.46 seconds on June 14 in Eugene, Oregon. Running for the University of Michigan Wolverines, Sutherland won the NCAA 400-metre women’s hurdles title for a second time in her career, and she set new Canadian and NCAA records with her second win.
Sutherland’s time of 52.46 seconds was the ninth fastest time in history ever run in the women’s 400-metre hurdles.
She held the old Canadian record of 53.26 seconds set back on June 8, 2024. The old NCAA record was held by track superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone with a time of 52.75 seconds run on May 13, 2018.
Sutherland drove to Saskatoon from her family home in Borden, which is located about 51-kilometres northwest of “The Bridge City,” for Wednesday’s practice session. Many athletes that she knew fired the good-natured joking autograph request between her repetitions on the track.
When her training session did wrap up, she accommodated a number of autograph and picture requests that came her way.
“It is nice to see everybody again, and this is the track that I’ve been running on for a while like since it was built,” said Sutherland, who also claimed honours this year as the NCAA Division I outdoor female track athlete of the year. “I’ve been running on here during summers for a couple of seasons before I left for the NCAA, so it is always nice to come back home.
“I was talking to (University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field head coach) Jason (Reindl) about how in the post-season and NCAAs the amount of people that we have at practice kind of starts to dwindle down a little bit. Now, it is just me and one other girl at practice every day for like the world season and preparing for world championships. It is nice to come out here and see so many people working out and so many different age groups and so many different events and see everybody working out and working to get better and just pushing themselves.”
Sutherland began running at the Track and Field Track when it opened in 2019. She competed with the Saskatoon Track and Field Club before heading off to join the Wolverines.
Her journey in track and field career included making her Summer Olympics debut at the Games that ran from July 26 to August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. On August 8, 2024 a day after her 21st birthday, Sutherland ran in the final of the 400-metre women’s hurdles.
While she was at the Track and Field Track on Wednesday, Sutherland saw a lot of familiar faces and a lot of new faces.
“I definitely recognize all the university aged people, because I would run with them when I was younger either in the same club with them or against them, if they’re from different parts of the province,” said Sutherland, who stands 5-foot-8. “There are a lot of young faces around here that I don’t recognize.
“That is also just so great to see and just a testament to how the sport is growing, especially in Saskatchewan. We have a lot of young faces out there, so it is very exciting.”
She proceeded to pause before adding a humourous comment with regards to seeing the young faces.
“It makes me feel old, though,” said Sutherland with a chuckle.
Reindl, who has coached a large number of elite level track and field athletes from Saskatoon and surrounding communities, said it was big to have Sutherland come back to the Track and Field Track to meet the athletes who train there. For the younger athletes, Reindl said Sutherland’s appearance draws a connection that she was once where they were.
“The biggest thing is when we talk about the Saskatoon track and field community and the Gordie Howe Sports Complex it is all about really the word community and showing the youth that she started the same way they did,” said Reindl. “She had the same track, same facilities, same coaches and really anything is possible.
“It just really is a testament to what is possible as a person in the sport.”
Reindl added it is special to reflect on the fact that Sutherland was one of the first athletes that ran on the Track and Field Track when it opened in 2019 and has already gone on an incredible journey in the sport.
“It is just remarkable,” said Reindl. “We’re all just so proud of her and her achievements.
“At the same time, we use the cliché of it takes a village through the clubs, the provincial association, the community of Borden and just all the coaches that have kind of helped guide her. It just shows that she is an amazing human being. It just means a lot.”
Reflecting on her latest NCAA title win in the 400-metre women’s hurdles, Sutherland said it still felt surreal that she set new Canadian and NCAA records and had the ninth all-time fastest time in that event.
“There has been a lot of attention,” said Sutherland. “I still think it is not quite settled in.
“I think the most surprising part of that race was just top 10 all-time. I’m ninth all-time now in the 400-metre hurdles ever, which is crazy to wrap my head around. When I made the Olympic final last summer, it was a huge confidence boost, because it taught me that no matter who is on the track I deserve a lane there, and I’ve earned a lane with the best athletes at the time.
“But now, most tracks are nine lanes. Now, I can tell myself I deserve a lane on the track no matter who is there from all-time. That is pretty crazy to me.”
In the present, Sutherland has exhausted her NCAA eligibility and graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in biology, health and society. She expects to be in track and field for a number of years to come and is now on her own when it comes to training.
The ace hurdler said it was weird to think she won’t be rejoining the Wolverines in the fall. Her online biography on the Wolverines athletics page contains a lengthy list of accomplishments to scroll through.
Sutherland remembers putting on her jersey for the last time and tearing up along with her coach before her last race with the Wolverines. She expects she will always have a strong attachment to the University of Michigan and the Wolverines.
“Just because I’m graduated and done with the NCAA, it doesn’t mean that I’m done with Michigan,” said Sutherland. “I don’t think I’ll ever be done with Michigan.
“That has been my home for the last four years, and it is definitely my home away from home now. It will always have a special place in my heart, and I know that whatever I do that Michigan fans and my teammates and coaches will be watching me. I’m forever a Wolverine.”
