The Dalhousie Tigers - Dalhousie University

Annick deGooyer had an illustrious career as a member of the women’s cross country and track and field teams in her four seasons at Dalhousie.

She came to Dalhousie in the fall of 1983 after graduating from Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School to begin her studies in physiotherapy and run for the cross country and track and field teams. She ended her high school career as the female athlete of the year after placing second at the cross country provincial championship and with second-place finishes in the 400m and 800m events at the track and field provincials.

With a year of experience under her belt, Annick broke out in her sophomore season with the cross country team, crossing the line in third place at the AUAA championship to lead the Tigers to a team conference title. An AUAA all-star and the only runner from the conference to qualify for the CIAU championship in 1984, Annick went on to run to a 26th place finish. The women’s cross country team’s MVP, she also competed at the Canadian Cross Country Championships that year and placed seventh in the junior category.

Annick also had a good season on the track and field team during the 1984-85 season, placing second in the 1000m event and first with the 4x800m and 4x167m relay teams.

The next year, Annick repeated as bronze medallist at the 1985 AUAA cross country championship to lead the Tigers to a second-place team finish. Once again the only runner from the Atlantic conference to qualify, she headed off to the national championship where she finished in 18th.

She had a sensational season on the track that same year, running to gold in the 1000m and 1500m events at the 1985-86 AUAA Track and Field Championships. She also won two more gold medals as a member of the 4x400m and 4x800m relay teams and was named the female athlete of the championship meet. Annick was outstanding at the national championships, setting a new AUAA standard while placing fourth in the 1000m and helping her 4x800m teammates to a sixth-place finish.

At the end of the season, Annick was named the team’s most valuable performer.

In her fourth and final season, she ran to a silver medal finish at the 1986 AUAA Cross Country Championship to be named an AUAA all-star for the third-straight year. The AUAA champions, the Tigers headed to the national championship in London, Ontario where Annick placed seventh to help lead the team to a fifth-place team finish – the best placement in Dalhousie history at that point in time. She and teammate Lucy Smith were both named CIAU first team All-Canadians, marking the first time in history that two runners from the Atlantic conference were named All-Canadians.

Annick continued her success into the track and field season, repeating as champion in the 1000m where she set a new conference record. She was second in the 1500m event and won gold as part of the 4x400m and 4x800m relay teams. At the end of the meet, the Tigers repeated as conference champions and Annick was again selected as the athlete of the meet. She went on to earn a bronze medal in the 1000m event at the national championships and was named the women’s track and field MVP for the second-straight season. At the end of the year, Annick was named the Class of ’55 award winner as Dalhousie’s female athlete of the year.

After her Dalhousie career, Annick went on to travel the world with Canada’s national team, competing for four years in the Yokohoma International Women’s Road Relays in Japan, Spain and Korea. She also won the Canadian Cross Country Championship and placed third at the Timex Canadian 10km Road Race nationals in 1990 and advanced to the World Cross Country Championships in 1991.