OTTAWA – Canada is off to a hot start with three medals at the Pan American Junior track and field Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Marie-Louise Asselin from Sarnia, ON and Jessica O’Connell from Calgary, AB were 2nd and 3rd in the women’s 3000 metres with times of 9:26.09 and 9:56.33 respectively. Justin Greif of Tisdale, SK won the bronze in the men’s shot put with a mark of 18.20 metres.

Just missing the podium were Myriam Dumont-Breton from Poénégamook, QC who was 4th in the women’s discus throw with a toss of 44.47 metres and Deryk Theodore from Edmonton, also 4th, in the men’s pole vault with a jump of 4.65 metres.

Darren Mazzei from Regina, SK qualified for the 800 metres final with a time of 1:50.09, good for 2nd place in semi –final 1. Andrew Heaney from Toronto won semi-final 2 in 1:50.10 and also qualified for the final.

Toronto’s Adam Johnson was 3rd in semi-final 3 of the men’s 400 metres and qualified for the final with a time of 46.77. Jenna Martin from Bridgewater, NS won semi-final 2 and qualified for the women’s 400 metre final in 52.87.

The Pan American Junior Championships continue tomorrow and will conclude on Sunday July 8.