In July, five members of the Bisons track and field team will take to Germany for the FISU World University Games. Over the next six weeks, Bison Sports will cover their journey and memories and moments that matter to them. Today's feature is on 600 metre indoor national champ, and 800 metre CTFL champ Dawson Mann.

After completing his U SPORTS eligibility in sensational style, middle distance standout Dawson Mann still has the racing bug. It's taken him across North America throughout his career, and now it's taking him to Germany for the FISU World University Games in Germany from July 21-27.
 
Mann won't be short on confidence, or prep when he heads to Europe to race in the 800 metre.
His long-term goal is to make Canada's 2028 Olympic roster in Los Angeles, and in order to do that, he's been putting in the miles.
 
It started during the 2024-25 U SPORTS season, where the Sanford, MB native offered up one of the most versatile showings in the history of Bisons track and field.
 
Mann became the first Bisons athlete in nearly three decades to compete in the 300 and 600 metre individually at nationals, and he also contributed to the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
 
He was an integral part of the Herd's four straight Canada West titles, a school record, and he capped his career in style with a national title in the 600.
 
Mann hasn't stopped ever since. He put on a show during the Canadian Track and Field League (CTFL), defending his 800 metre title, while setting a new personal best, at 1:47.41 in Guelph. That came a month after the reigning CTFL champ set a then personal best in Tennessee, at 1:48.13.
 
"I'm really grateful for the university career that I had and what I was able to accomplish there. Capping it off with a national title in the 600 was a great ending to that chapter. I was sort of feeling throughout the season that I didn't want my university career to be over. I wished that I could keep doing this," Mann reflected.
 
"I'm still excited to see how it goes, with finding different meets to go to on my own. I'm still confident in the training that I'm doing, that I can get to that next level. I just want to commit to that for as long as I can, because there's a relatively short window where I have a chance to do this and really focus on it and see how far I can go. I'm taking it one day at a time, one race at a time and trying to stack improvements. Whatever opportunities I get along the way, like FISU, I'm very grateful for that."
 
 
'It's been my main event'
Anyone who's seen Mann run, knows he has an incredible kick. He showcased that in Windsor at nationals, sprinting to gold in the final 50 metres of the 600. He knows how to go to "that place," putting his body on the line to do what it takes to win.
 
His first-place finish in Guelph was another classic "Mann moment." He stayed with the lead pack for the duration of the race, flashing an incredible burst of speed in the closing 20 metres for the win, surging past Guelph record holder Alanzo Ryan at the line.
 

"I was pretty relaxed before the race. I was excited to go out there and run. Off the break-in, I was sitting in fourth place. I was comfortably connected there. I went through 400 in 52 something seconds, and I was a few strides back but I still felt connected. Typically when I would start to feel it in an 800 was when you get to about 300 metres left to go. I was still feeling quite strong then," he said.
 
"I gave a little bit of a surge there and stayed connected to the race. I got to 200 and still felt pretty good, and then I just tried to hold my form for the last 100 and not tense up as much as I maybe have in the past, and try to peak all at once. I trusted that I still had more time to go. I held my form as best I could. I could feel that I was gaining on the guy in first, and I got him just before the line. I was super happy with that."
 
On Friday, Mann defended his CTFL title in the 800, the event where he's made his name for many years outdoors. It's a perfect trial run for his international debut just over a week later.  
 
"I'm really grateful for the opportunity to represent Canada. I don't specifically know what the competition will be like, but I know it will be at a high level. An opportunity to go to Europe to compete is exciting. I've travelling through North America lots, but this is another step on top of that. I've been planning out my season to lead up to the games and hopefully have the best showing possible, and to do my best to represent Canada," he added.
 
"I think for the 800, it's where my strength is. I have the speed that I need, and running relaxed is a big part of it. I'm able to give everything I have. Sometimes I'm feeling like I'm on the verge of death at the end of the race, but that's just what it takes in an 800. I think it's just exciting to have a race that has the element of speed, and also the strength to hold on and maintain your form at the end. It's been my main event in the outdoor season for quite a while now."