Barrie, Ont.’s Jadyn Keeler took the subsequent step in her profession on Thursday, signing an expert contract with Adidas and becoming a member of Golden Peaks Observe Membership, primarily based in Flagstaff, Ariz. Contemporary off a formidable two-year stretch within the NCAA and on the worldwide stage, the Canadian distance standout is ready to proceed her growth south of the border.
Keeler graduated from the College of North Dakota (UND) this spring after a embellished collegiate profession that included a couple of faculty information. She signed an NIL (Title, Picture, Likeness) take care of Adidas in April, earlier than making the soar to an expert contract on Thursday.
“I’m thrilled to get to work with Adidas and grateful that they took an opportunity on me,” Keeler instructed Canadian Operating. “I can’t wait to point out everybody what I’m able to, and to work with a model that invests a lot of their athletes.”
Her subsequent cease is Flagstaff, the place she’ll lace up each her monitor spikes and street sneakers as the latest member of the lately fashioned Golden Peaks Observe Membership, forward of her street racing debut. The group was rebranded and relocated from the San Diego-based Golden Coast Observe Membership in Might. Coached by Terrence Malone, Golden Peaks focuses on middle- to long-distance coaching, and consists of athletes akin to Katie Izzo, the 2026 USATF Championships 10K silver medallist.
Climbing the ranks
Keeler appears to decrease her private greatest each time she hits the monitor. In December, she set the U23 Canadian 5,000m report of 15:14.76, which additionally lands at No. 4 on the Canadian all-time listing. She additionally owns the U23 report within the 10,000m, working 32:06.70 in her debut on the distance and following that up with a 31:56.03 PB within the occasion in April, a No. 7 all-time Canadian end.
Keeler completed off her NCAA profession with a sixth-place end within the 10,000m (her favorite race) on the 2026 NCAA Out of doors Observe and Discipline Championships and twelfth in a extremely aggressive 5,000m ultimate. As she begins her skilled profession, she’ll shift speedy focus from the monitor to street racing.
“It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind the previous 12 months and a half,” Keeler instructed Canadian Operating. “However I believe it goes to point out the work I’ve been placing in, and it’s good to see the years of effort come collectively for these moments.”
Excited for the long run
Keeler gained’t have to attend lengthy for her skilled debut. The 23-year-old will make her half-marathon debut on the 2026 Canadian Half Marathon Championships on Aug. 16, in Edmonton, as a part of the Servus Edmonton Marathon.
“Being an expert runner is a dream come true,” Keeler stated. “I’ve wished to be a professional athlete since I used to be younger, so I’m thrilled to get to work representing Adidas each on the monitor and on the roads.”
The race will mark her first competitors since asserting her transfer to the skilled ranks, and she or he’s keen to check herself over the longer distance.
“The 10K on the monitor has all the time been my favorite as a result of it’s the farthest you possibly can go,” Keeler stated. “With the ability to run greater than double that basically excited me, and I constructed my coaching block round that, and it looks as if the subsequent cheap transfer for my profession.”
Though street racing can be a precedence within the close to future, Keeler isn’t leaving the monitor behind. She stated she’ll focus on her plans together with her new coach, however hopes to race cross-country this fall whereas persevering with to compete on the monitor.
