Maria Bernard

Biography

Maria Bernard has represented Canada twice at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. She competed in the junior race in 2011 before progressing to the senior race two years later. In between she competed at the IAAF World Junior Championships in the 1500m. While competing for the University of British Columbia, Bernard won the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m at the 2015 NAIA Outdoor National Championships. That made her the first female UBC athlete to win the Herbert B. Marrett Outstanding Performer Award. In 2015 she also finished sixth in the 3000m steeplechase at the World University Games. During her university career, the Thunderbirds won three NAIA cross country national championships. Bernard was a co-winner of the May Brown Trophy as UBC Graduating Female Athlete of the Year. She ran a personal best 9:44.81 in the 3000m steeplechase in June 2016.

Getting to Know…

Family: Mother Rita Bernard… Sisters Therese and Renee… Getting into the Sport: Started running track at age 15… Outside Interests: Graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Combined Major of Science… Odds and Ends: Collects postcards during her travels… Nickname: Mea…