Isabella Goveia breaks Melissa Bishop record at Can-Am Classic

Isabella Goveia continues to make her mark on the track, delivering a breakthrough performance this past weekend at the Can-Am Classic. The fourth-year distance runner finished third overall in the women’s 1000 meters, crossing the line in 2:46.93, a time that not only set a new school record but also served as an automatic qualifying standard for nationals. "That was very surreal," Goveia told Powerplay Sports. "I had no clue it was going to be that fast. It felt like I was locked in and it was pretty quick and then when I saw those numbers I was really shocked."

Goveia’s finished third in the race and eclipsed her previous personal best of 2:50.47, which she ran at the University Centre in Michigan on January 26, 2024. In doing so, she broke a longstanding school record previously held by former Olympian Melissa Bishop, placing her achievement firmly in the program’s history books.

"The record is great. She's such a big name here at the school. Her legacy is really impressive. I'm really happy."

A native of St. Catharines, Ontario, Goveia stands 5-foot-8 and is majoring in Engineering. A graduate of Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, she has steadily developed into one of the program’s most reliable performers. Coaches believed she was poised for a breakout season, but even they were surprised to see a record fall so early in the year.

"We're excited for her." Distance coach Jordan Collison told Powerplay Sports. "We knew she was fit coming intor it, but obviously to do it (break the record) this early and at home is pretty exciting. It sets her up for the rest of the season."

Much of Goveia’s early-season success can be credited to her offseason work. She focused heavily on the 800 meters during training and also competed in cross country this past fall, building strength and endurance that have translated seamlessly to the indoor track season.

"There was a lot of mileage during the off-season, doing a lot more mileage than I did last year, committing to it and really pushing myself in those longer efforts. I even tried a mile in November. I've never done a mile before. Putting myself is places where I had to run a lot longer, makes the 1K seem a lot shorter, more of a sprint."

While the record is a milestone worth celebrating, Goveia remains focused on the bigger picture. With the rest of the season ahead, her attention now turns to refining details, improving her national ranking, and closing the gap on the two athletes who finished ahead of her at the Can-Am Classic.