Steeds and Mason win bronze at NACAC under-23 T&F Champions
SANTO DOMINGO - Mike Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., won the bronze medal in the men’s high jump and Mark Steeds of Paris, Ont., was also third in the men’s 5,000-metre on Sunday to conclude the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) under-23 track and field championships.
Canada ends the three-day competition with 15 medals (three silver and 12 bronze).
In the men’s high jump, Keith Moffatt of the U.S., took the gold at 2.27 metres followed by Donald Thomas of the Bahamas in second at 2.21. Mason was third at 2.19 missing his three attempts at 2.21.
“I was really happy even though it was not personal best. I had a lot fun and the competition was really good,” said Mason, the world junior champion in 2004. “I was pretty confident heading in but I never got in a groove where I felt I could make every jump. But overall things are going a lot better this year. I’ve gone back to the basics and I’m having a good year.”
In the men’s 5,000, Steeds took third spot clocking 15:02.68. Aaron Aguayo led the U.S., to a 1-2 finish clocking 14:54.55.
Other Canadian men’s results Sunday: Kyle Helf of Alliston, Ont., and Sean Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., were fifth and sixth in the hammer throw;
On the women’s side, Rachel Lavallee of Peterborough, Ont., was fourth in the10 kilometre walk; Tabia Charles of Pickering, Ont., fourth in the long jump; Megan Brown of Toronto fifth in the 800; Adelle Johns of Richmond, B.C., and Cloe Hewitt of Victoria eighth and ninth in the heptathlon.
In the relays, Canada was fourth in the men’s 4X100 with Adam Rosenke of Edmonton, Gavin Smellie of Toronto, Justin McLennan of Mississauga, Ont., and Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I; sixth in the men’s 4X400 with Benjamin Warnock of Sault Ste Marie, Ont., Rosenke, Geoff Martinson of Victoria and Ira Thomson of Texada Island, B.C.; and sixth in the women’s 4X400 with Lauren Welch of Vancouver Bevin Kennelly of Quesnel, B.C., Jacqueline Malette of Windsor, Ont., and Brown.
The Canadian silver medallists this weekend were Krista Woodward of New Westminster, B.C., in the women’s javelin, Shannon Elmer of New Westminster in the women’s 10,000 and Adam Currie of Verdun, Que., in the men’s 800.
Besides Mason and Steeds, Canadian bronze medallists this weekend for the men were Martinson in the 800, Connaughton in the 200 and Joseph Campanelli of Toronto in the 10,000.
For the women, third place finishes were posted by Malette in the 1,500 and 5,000, Adrianne Vangool of Saskatoon in the pole vault, Sultana Frizell of Perth, Ont., in the shotput, Novelle Murray of Surrey, B.C., in the discus, Kennelly in the 3,000 steeplechase and Charles in the triple jump.
