From Singapore to Saskatchewan; A Varsity Blues’ pandemic journey

Varsity Blues track and fielder Brenna
12/08/2020

To say that Brenna Hamel's everyday life was changed by the COVID-19 pandemic would be an understatement. 
 
The fourth-year Rotman commerce public accounting specialist was working for a technology-consulting firm in Singapore through the University of Toronto's international exchange program called NUS (National University of Singapore) Overseas College. Then, U of T recalled exchange students in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plea for all Canadian citizens to return home in March.

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Brenna Hamel is on the Varsity Blues track and field team (photo by Seyran Mammadov)
 
Hamel wasted no time and was on a flight to her hometown of Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, 140km north of Saskatoon, within 48 hours of the announcement.
 
"I was quite sad," said Hamel. "I really enjoyed my life in Singapore and was not ready for it to end. I left because I believed my travel insurance, issued through U of T, would be voided by the cancellation of the exchange."
 
That's when her life flipped upside down. Hamel went from working amongst Singapore's booming business environment and population of 5.6 million people to life on her parent's recreational farm.

"We raise chickens and turkeys for means of personal consumption and we raise other birds recreationally, such as peacocks, guinea fowl and silkies. We also recreationally raise rabbits."
 
She quickly established a routine to keep herself on track – pun intended.
 
"In order to maintain the full-time work I set up a strict daily schedule," said Hamel. "I worked 8-4 p.m., made supper and spent at least one hour per day weeding or doing some short chore. Afterwards I would train."
 
And train she did.
 
The triple jumper, who finished fourth overall at the 2019 OUA championships, had to get creative to keep up with the Varsity Blues program.

"The track in Shellbrook is dirt so I have to drive 40km to get to a real track. This is not always feasible, but I go when I can. On those days, I get my spikes on and do my speed work. Otherwise, I work with what I have on the acreage.
 
During the winter months, I got creative by creating a squat bar out of PVC pipe, hooks and weighted backpacks. We have a treadmill to get some running in and I use the stairs for plyo(metric exercises)."

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Once the spring and summer months came around, Hamel's chores took over.
 
"Spring and summer are very busy. We do lots of weeding, rototilling, cleaning of chicken coops, cutting grass and any miscellaneous projects that are going on. For example, we are re-treeing our lot right now. We are also laying gravel paths so we are separating dirt from rocks with a sifting machine. We have also done trenching to lay water hoses underground to feed the gardens and set up automatic watering systems for the birds and gardens."

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Varsity Blues head coach Carl Georgevski was nothing short of amazed when he found out what Brenna's everyday life entailed.
 
"In my 40 plus years of coaching, this is a first," joked Georgevski. "Brenna couldn't make it to a team meeting because she was cleaning chicken coops."
 
As crazy as these last few months have been, one thing is for sure. Hamel is excited to come back to campus and has her eyes on the prize.
 
"I will be back this fall. This will be my sixth and final year at U of T. I wanted to return to have one last year of training with Carl and the team, and one last shot at nationals."