Medals at Pan American

Jenna Westaway

The Canadian Pan American Junior Championship team is coming home from Medellin, Colombia today with quite a bit of extra baggage after winning 19 medals over the course of the weekend. Canada enjoyed its best ever IAAF World Championship last week in Russia and the junior team kept that momentum going with five gold, seven silver, and seven bronze over the course of the three-day competition.

At the last Pan American Junior Championships Canada came away with 13 medals; six silver and seven bronze. The next edition of the bi-annual event will be held in Edmonton, Alta., in July 2015.

Sage Watson of Medicine Hat, Alta., led the medal haul with three. Watson kicked things off with bronze in the 400-metres in a time 52.68 seconds. She then won gold in the 400-metre hurdles in 56.81. “I am proud to be representing my country. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from my family, friends, coaches and country!” Sage was also a member of the women’s 4×400-metres relay team that won silver in 3:41.53. Marie-Colombe St-Pierre of Lac Etchemin, Que., led the race off passing the baton to Jenna Westaway of Calgary, Alta., then to Vanessa Mcleod of Toronto, Ont., who handed things off to Sage who ran anchor.

Andre Degrasse of Markham, Ont., also won a pair of individual medals taking silver in the 100-metres (10.36) and bronze in the 200-metres (20.74). After the 100-metres Andre said, “I felt good, good race, I am happy with the silver medal. I am looking forward to hopefully medaling again in the 200-metres tomorrow.”

Delaware, Ont.’s Alysha Newman won the women’s pole vault title in a new Pan American Junior Championship record of 4.40 metres. The performance is also a new pending Canadian Junior record. Alysha owned the previous Canadian best of 4.31-metres established earlier this season. “I could not have asked for a better competition, the field was very strong.” She adds: “I am proud that I finished my junior year with a personal best, a meet record and (pending) Canadian junior record. Thank you to my three coaches Doug Wood, Zedenek Krykorka and coach Langley for all their hard work!”

Brandon McBride of Windsor, Ont., won gold in the men’s 400-metres in 45.89 seconds. McBride was also the anchor of the men’s bronze medal 4×400-metres relay team composed also of Nathaniel George of Coquitlam, B.C., Christopher Green of Kitchener, Ont., and Jordan Sherwood of Cambridge, Ont. The team clocked in at 3:07.61.

In the women’s 800-metres Canada finished first and third; gold was won by Jenna Westaway in 2:06.94. Vanessa Mcleod of Toronto, Ont., won the bronze in 2:09.74.

Toronto, Ont.’s Shawnacy Barber won gold in the men’s pole vault clearing 5.35 metres, he won the competition by 15-centimetres.

Julie Zrinyi of Winnipeg, Man., stood atop the podium to hear the Canadian anthem play; Zrinyi finished the women’s 1500-metres in 4:36.88.

The women’s 4×100-metres relay team of Shaunie Morrison of Calgary, Alta., Amelia Brohman of Ottawa, Ont., Nicole Setterington of London, Ont., and Khamica Bingham of Brampton, Ont., came away with silver in 46.13 seconds. “We had a short time to prepare for the event as a team but we were able to come together and pull it off!”

Antoine Thibeault of St-Gerard-Des Laurentides, Que., won silver in the men’s 3000-metres steeplechase in 9:17.09. ”

Nicole Setterington won silver in the 100-metre hurdles in 13.57 seconds. “It was an amazing experience to represent my country as well as an unforgettable competition. I cannot thank my coach, parents and friends enough.”I’m happy with my race; thanks to all those that supported me.”

In the women’s 3000-metres Toronto, Ont.’s Madeline McDonald won silver in 9:56.65.

It was hammer throw bronze for Kayla Gallagher of Truro Heights, N.S., with a toss of 56.58-metres. “I am happy with my most consistent hammer competition ever, thanks to my lovely cheering section!”

After the two-day, seven event heptathlon Georgia Ellenwood of Langley, B.C., commented “I feel relieved that it’s over, a weight has lifted off my shoulders.” Ellenwood won bronze medal with a score of 5493 points.

John Krzyszkowski of Mississauga, Ont., won bronze with a toss of 67.38-metres in the men’s javelin. “This was a great comeback season! When I started this year I was not sure I would make the team, such an awesome experience”.