14 medals at PanAM Junior Champs

Canadians shine with 14 medals at Panamerican Junior Championship

Lindsay Butterworth

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada sent the Panamerican Junior Championship team to Miramar, Florida with one simple objective, surpass the 13 podiums earned at the 2009 staging of this event.  “I am very pleased with this team; they achieved their objective under less then optimal conditions.  The athletes kept their focus through travel delays and extreme heat and humidity, responding with 14 medals, surpassing the 2009 medal count,” explains Head Coach Carla Nicholls.

Four athletes earned multiple medals at the Pan American Junior championships.  Aaron Brown of Toronto, Ont., won silver with the men’s 4×100-metres relay team and won individual bronze in the 100-metres.  Caroline Ehrhardt of Espanola, Ont., won bronze in both the long and triple jump.  Annie LeBlanc from Repentigny, Que., took silver in the 800-metres and also a silver as part of the 4×400-metres relay team.  Katie Reid from Surrey, B.C., won a pair of relay medals, winning silver with the women’s 4×400-metres relay and bronze with the 4×100-metres relay.

“Our theme was focused on getting that extra inch and shaving the extra second off in order to be successful.  The coaching staff was committed to educating turning adversities into positives; in response all of our goals were met,” added Coach Nicholls.

Canadian Medalists

The vast majority of this team has been involved for close to two years in Olympic Development Program activities.  Carla Nicholls is confident the program is achieving its objectives, “I feel confident that these experienced junior athletes are ready to enter their senior years well prepared to succeed.  The returning juniors have gained the experience they need to be on the podium next year at the 2012 World Junior Championships.”