Kate Van Buskirk

{{Short description|Canadian long-distance runner}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2015}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Kate Van Buskirk | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|06|09}} | birth_place = Brampton, Ontario, Canada | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's Athletics}} {{MedalCountry|{{flag|Canada}}}} {{MedalGold| 2006 NACAC | Junior (U20) Cross Country}} {{MedalBronze| 2014 Commonwealth Games | 1500 metres}} | show-medals = yes }}

'''Kate Van Buskirk''' (born June 9, 1987, in Brampton, Ontario)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Athletics - van BUSKIRK Kate|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/athlete-profile-n1432677-van-buskirk-kate.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-08-28|work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics|publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|language=en-us|archive-date=August 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828012523/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/athlete-profile-n1432677-van-buskirk-kate.htm}}</ref> is a Canadian Olympian, cross-country and track runner, with 18 years National Team experience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://athletics.ca/kate-van-buskirk-appointed-athlete-director-on-athletics-canada-board-of-directors/|title = Kate van Buskirk appointed Athlete Director on Athletics Canada Board of Directors|date = August 7, 2019}}</ref> She won bronze for Canada at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 1500 m. She was named as an Athlete Director of Athletics Canada, 2019-2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Athletics Canada Announces 2020-2021 Board of Directors |url=https://athletics.ca/athletics-canada-announces-2020-2021-board-of-directors/ |website=Athletics Canada |accessdate=18 August 2020 |location=Ottawa ON |date=17 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Athletics Canada Hosts Annual General Meeting in Halifax, Elects Four New Board Members |url=https://athletics.ca/blog/2022/05/17/athletics-canada-hosts-annual-general-meeting-in-halifax-elects-four-new-board-members/ |access-date=18 January 2026 |work=Athletics Canada |date=17 May 2022 |quote=Athletics Canada warmly thanks Lynn Kanuka (BC), Grant Mitchell (MB), and Bianelle Legros (QC), as well as our outgoing Female Athlete Representative Kate Van Buskirk (ON) for their contributions during their board tenure.}}</ref>

After setting the Canadian record time for the indoor mile, in 2018,<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.bramptonguardian.com/sports-story/8099641-kate-van-buskirk-sets-canadian-record-for-indoor-mile/| title = Kate Van Buskirk sets Canadian record for indoor mile| date = January 30, 2018}}</ref> she was invited to Team Canada at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://runningmagazine.ca/2018-iaaf-world-indoor-championships-team/|title=This is Canada's team for the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships|date=February 14, 2018|access-date=February 16, 2018|archive-date=February 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216205420/https://runningmagazine.ca/2018-iaaf-world-indoor-championships-team/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

She ran in the 5000 metre at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo.<ref name="Tokyo-2020-5000-m-results">{{cite web |title=Athletics - Round 1 - Heat 2 Results |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/result-women-s-5000m-rnd1-000200-.htm |website=Tokyo 2020 |publisher=International Olympic Committee |access-date=30 July 2021 |location=Tokyo |date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=August 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807005735/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/result-women-s-5000m-rnd1-000200-.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Van Buskirk began running marathons in 2024, winning the women's category in her debut.

She has hosted various races on television and the internet, and previously hosted and produced a podcast.

==Career==

===Early competition===

In 2003, as a student at Turner Fenton Secondary School, Van Buskirk set the record for junior girls ROPSSAA (Region of Peel Secondary Schools Athletic Association) 800 m, at 2:17.58. She followed this up in 2004, by setting the record in the senior girls ROPSSAA 800 m category, at 2:11.47, and in the 1500 m category, at 4:38.53. Both records still stand.

Kate won the 2004 Runners' Choice London Distance Festival for the 800 m [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312151606/http://www.londonrunner.ca/articles.php?id=339], and third in the 800 m juniors at the Hamilton Spectator Indoor Games.

Van Buskirk won the title of "Athlete of the Year" from the City of Brampton in 2004. She also won the 2004 Ken Giles Award for Brampton's Amateur Athlete of the Year, from ''The Brampton Guardian''. She also won her high school's female athlete of the year award in the 2004–2005 school year. These awards were not only for her cross country and track running, but also volleyball. Kate attended Duke University in North Carolina, where she sang Alto II for the Duke Chorale and Chamber Choir under the direction of Rodney Wynkoop.

===Early international competition===

In March 2005, Van Buskirk went to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, held in Le Mans, France. She finished in the top half, at 57th place, despite hot and humid conditions. This was the second highest Canadian finish at the event.

Van Buskirk graduated from Turner Fenton Secondary School in June 2005 with honours at the Academic level of study, but returned for a fifth year.

In 2005, Van Buskirk won her category of the McQuaid Invitational, a race for high school athletes, held in Rochester, New York. At the event Van Buskirk set a meet record. Later, Van Buskirk won the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championship for her category. Next Van Buskirk won the Ontario Track and Field Association (OTFA) junior championship. She placed fifth in the 800 metres at the Pan American Junior Track and Field Championships, held in Windsor, Ontario, in August.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pan Am Results |work=The Windsor Star |date=2 August 2005 |page=D4}}</ref>

In December 2005, Van Buskirk won the Canadian junior championship, held in Vancouver, British Columbia. She ran the 5000-metre distance in 16:38, three seconds faster than Anita Campbell of Abbotsford, British Columbia, a runner at University of Washington.

In May 2005, Van Buskirk set the current ROPSSAA record for girls open steeplechase, at 5:12.00.

The Canadian junior title qualified her for the NACAC Cross Country Championships (North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association) in Florida, to be held March 2006. Van Buskirk told ''The Brampton Guardian'' "I really don't know what to expect (at NACAC) because I've never been there." Because of this win, Athletics Canada chose her for the 2006 World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, to be held in April. Van Buskirk told the ''Guardian'' that she'd "like to be top 30 and the top Canadian" at the Worlds. Cramps, late in the race, hampered her result to 45th place.<ref name="2006-Star-profile" />

As of 2006, Van Buskirk trained 12 to 16&nbsp;km daily, with long runs of 18&nbsp;km. She trains at the Mississauga Track Club, under her coach/father Jim Van Buskirk, as well as training with the Toronto Olympic Club and coach Eddie Raposo.

Kate won gold medal at 2006 NACAC Cross Country Championships (North America, Central America and the Caribbean).

===University competition===

Van Buskirk accepted an athletics scholarship for Duke University, beginning in fall 2006.<ref name="2006-Star-profile" />

She placed third in the 800 at an Atlantic Coast Conference race in April 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wake Forest's Sikes romps to 5,000-meters title |agency=McClatchy-Tribune Business News |date=22 April 2007 |location=Washington DC}}</ref>

She placed second in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowen |first1=Larry |title=Oregon women, Florida men win NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships |agency=McClatchy-Tribune Business News |date=13 March 2011 |location=Washington DC}}</ref>

Kate finished 10th in the final Athletics at the 2011 Summer Universiade – Women's 1500 metres.

=== Career competition ===

Kate place 6th in the 1500 metres semifinal 14th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Kate's 4:07.36 was a personal best time 2013 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 1500 metres.

Kate earned bronze medal Athletics at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Women's 1500 metres. She was named ''Canadian Running'' Female Runner of the Year that year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fenton |first1=Caela |title=Female Runner of the Year: Kate Van Buskirk |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/training/2014-golden-shoe-awards/ |access-date=5 December 2025 |work=Canadian Running |date=17 December 2014 |location=Toronto ON}}</ref>

Kate will represent Canada in the 1500 metres at the 15th IAAF World Championship in Athletics

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In January 2018, Van Buskirk broke the Canadian record in the indoor mile, with a time of 4:26.92, when at the Dr. Sander Invitational at the Armory in New York City. She beat Rachel Schneider and Karissa Schweizer, both by less than a second.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Huebsch |first1=Tim |title=Kate Van Buskirk breaks Canadian indoor mile record |work=Canadian Running |date=28 January 2018}}</ref> Also that winter, Van Buskirk was signed by Nike.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Madeleine |title=PREVIEW: Payton Jordan Invitational |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/preview-payton-jordan-invitational/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=Canadian Running |date=30 April 2018}}</ref> In February, she was announced as part of Canada's team at the 2018 IAAF World Championships.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Huebsch |first1=Tim |title=This is Canada's team for the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/2018-iaaf-world-indoor-championships-team/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=Canadian Running |date=14 February 2018}}</ref>

She placed third in the 5000 metre at the Payton Jordan Invitational, in May, with a time of 15:16.34.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Madeleine |title=Van Buskirk and Knight third at Payton Jordan Invitational |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/van-buskirk-and-knight-third-at-payton-jordan-invitational/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=Canadian Running |date=4 May 2018}}</ref> Falling during the Prefontaine Classic, she entered the 800 metre at the Speed River Inferno in Guelph.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Madeleine |title=Ten Olympians to compete at Speed River Inferno |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/ten-confirmed-olympians-for-speed-river-inferno/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=Canadian Running |date=12 June 2018}}</ref> In June, she placed second in a 1500-metre race in London, Ontario,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Madeleine |title=PHOTOS: London 1,500m Night |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/photos-london-1500m-night/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=Canadian Running |date=17 June 2018}}</ref> and second at the Canadian 5K Road Championships in Toronto.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Madeleine |title=Ben Flanagan smashes Canadian soil 5K record in his first-ever national win |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/ben-flanagan-smashes-canadian-5k-record-in-his-first-ever-national-win/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=Canadian Running |date=9 September 2018}}</ref>

Van Buskirk is looking to return to her roots in the 1500 metre for the 2019 season.<ref name="CR-lead5k">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Madeleine |title=Van Buskirk and Bruchet lead Canadian 5K Championship fields |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/van-buskirk-and-bruchet-lead-canadian-5k-championship-fields/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=Canadian Running |date=4 September 2018}}</ref>

Van Buskirk ran under the Olympic entry standard for the 5000 metre, at an Irvine, California track meet in May 2021. "Her time is the fourth fastest among Canadian women all-time," according to ''Canadian Running'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Anne |title=Kate Van Buskirk goes sub-15, gets Olympic standard in 5,000m |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/kate-van-buskirk-goes-sub-15-gets-olympic-standard-in-5000m/ |access-date=25 July 2021 |work=Canadian Running |date=16 May 2021 |location=Toronto ON}}</ref>

On July 3, 2021, it was announced that Van Buskirk was selected to represent Canada in the Women's 5000m at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. She finished in her heat at 15:14.96.<ref name="Tokyo-2020-5000-m-results" />

=== Marathon competition ===

In 2024, Van Buskirk took up the marathon. Nashville Track Club founder Dave Milner is her training partner and coach. Van Buskirk ran her first half-marathon in early March, while also serving as co-race director.<ref name="2024-04-27-The-Tennessean">{{cite news |last1=Organ |first1=Mike |title=Mitchell Small and Kate van Buskirk are St. Jude Nashville Marathon winners |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2024/04/27/nashville-marathon-winner-mitchell-small-rock-n-roll/73388762007/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=The Tennessean |publisher=Gannett |date=27 April 2024 |location=Nashville TN}}</ref><ref name="2024-04-30-Canadian-Running-Magazine">{{cite news |last1=Dickinson |first1=Marley |title=Canadian Olympian Kate Van Buskirk wins marathon debut in Tennessee |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/canadian-olympian-kate-van-buskirk-wins-marathon-debut-in-tennessee/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=Canadian Running Magazine |publisher=Gripped Publishing Inc. |date=30 April 2024 |location=Toronto ON}}</ref>

Her debut full marathon was the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee; she was the female winner.<ref name="2024-04-27-The-Tennessean" /><ref name="2024-04-30-Canadian-Running-Magazine" />

==Broadcaster==

Van Buskirk previously hosted, edited, and produced ''Canadian Running Magazine'' podcast ''The Shakeout'', beginning in 2018.

Van Buskirk's sixth year broadcasting from the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon was 2023; certain years have been carried on CBC Sports' live stream.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon will be live streamed on CBC Sports |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/stwm-2017/scotiabank-toronto-waterfront-marathon-live-stream-cbc-sports/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=Canadian Running |date=18 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Back in my element! Tomorrow morning will be my 6th year as part of the broadcast team for #TOwaterfront42k. Catch all the livestream action courtesy of @kristaduchene @geoffwightman @misterhawaii starting at 8am (link in bio). I'll be doing live finish line interviews with our incredible athletes. It's going to be a thrilling day in the heart of Toronto! |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CyZPPENPW0V/ |website=Instagram |access-date=19 January 2024 |date=14 October 2023}}</ref> In 2022, Van Buskirk joined Diamond League World Athletics coverage on CBC, with Andi Petrillo and Scott Russell.<ref>[https://twitter.com/K8VBeast/status/1531010852698132480 Tweet from Van Buskirk, quoting a tweet from Scott Russell], both May 29, 2022.</ref> Other broadcasts include the Athletics Ontario Ontario U20, Open, and Para Championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=U20, Open, and Para Championships Recap |url=https://athleticsontario.ca/u20-open-and-para-championships-recap/ |website=Athletics Ontario |access-date=19 January 2024 |location=Scarborough, Toronto ON |date=15 June 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Van Buskirk was reported to be a member of the Toronto Children's Chorus for 11 years. As of 2006, she was reported to sing hard rock songs before races.<ref name="2006-Star-profile">{{cite news |last1=Grossman |first1=David |title=Van Buskirk belts out sweet notes on track |work=Toronto Star |date=11 May 2006}}</ref>

She was a four-time honours student in high school.<ref name="2006-Star-profile" />

Van Buskirk has had an interest in track since at least the 1996 Summer Olympics, where Donovan Bailey set the 100m track record.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Van Buskirk |first1=Kate |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CgVofHsNT3s/?img_index=1 |website=Instagram |access-date=19 January 2024 |date=22 July 2022 |quote=“One day I’m going to go to the Olympics and beat Donovan Bailey’s world record!” - 9yr old Kate, 1996}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} * Frank Juzenas, ''Brampton Guardian'': "Van Buskirk still on the run". Brampton ON: Metroland Publishing, 8 January 2006.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Buskirk, Kate}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian women long-distance runners Category:Canadian women steeplechase runners Category:Track and field athletes from Ontario Category:Sportswomen from Ontario Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Canada Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Category:Canadian people of Dutch descent Category:Canadian Track and Field Championships winners Category:Competitors at the 2011 Summer Universiade Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Sportspeople from Brampton Category:Olympic track and field athletes for Canada Category:Medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen Category:Duke Blue Devils women's track and field athletes Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics