Swan Lake sisters Natalie and Lindsey Gundrum have been fixtures on the University of Manitoba’s women’s track and field team for the past few years.
Natalie and Lindsey’s track focus for the University team is solely on the pentathlon, a five-sport event that includes high jump, long jump, shot-put, 60-metre hurdles, and an 800-metre sprint.
The Gundrums come from an illustrious track and field family. At one point, four of their older siblings also competed for the University of Manitoba track and field team.
The pair started in track in elementary school at Swan Lake and have been passionate about it ever since.
“As a kid, I watched my older siblings compete in track. So then I participated in school meets in elementary school and continued to compete in high school,” said Lindsey Gundrum. “What made me want to pursue it competitively was watching my siblings compete, as I always loved the atmosphere around the track.”
“I pursued it competing because it felt like the sport that I had the best chance winning stuff in, as I’ve always been very competitive,” added Natalie Gundrum.
The Gundrum sisters note that Prairie Mountain High School in Somerset’s track and field program is phenomenal. They have won the provincial aggregate track and field banner almost every year since the school started after the Somerset and Swan Lake schools amalgamated.
“I actually wouldn’t be competing in track at the UofM if it weren’t for Natalie,” said Lindsey. “My first year of university, I was focused on softball, playing with Team Manitoba at the 2022 Canada Games. In my second year of school, Natalie really wanted me to join the team, but I thought it was too late for me as it was my second year of university and I hadn’t really competed in track since high school. Natalie actually tricked me into going to the team meeting after talking to our coach, and I’ve been training ever since, focusing on the pentathlon.”
Natalie is in her fifth year of university. She is finishing up her history degree this year and will then apply to education next year. Lindsey is in her third year of the midwifery program at the University of Manitoba.
“My time at UofM has been great,” said Lindsey. “I train with the team during the school year, and this past summer, I was in Brandon for my clinical placement, so I would go to the track there whenever I had time.
The Gundrum sisters’ big goal is to hit personal bests at this year’s CanWest, the Western Canadian conference championship. If they do well, they will attend the U Sports National University championships.
“Going to the U Sports is my goal and would be a great way to cap off my university track days,” said Natalie. “I’m going to train lots to hopefully make that happen.”
Standard Photo by Lindsey Gundrum
Swan Lake sisters, Natalie (left) Lindsay (right) Gundrum compete in women’s pentathlon for the University of Manitoba’s track and field team
