Posted: July 29, 2005

Athletics: Mike Woods sets new Canadian record in mile event

(WINDSOR, July 28, 2005) Ottawa’s Mike Woods established his second Canadian junior track and field record in the past 12-months, setting the new mark of 3:57.48 over one mile during the opening night of the 2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championship in Windsor, Ontario.

Woods, 19, broke the previous Canadian mark of 3:58.08 set by Mark Olsen in 1983. Earlier this summer he set the Canadian junior record in the 3000m at an event in Ottawa.

Trailing through the first two and a half laps, Woods pulled even with the eventual winner Adam Goucher of the United States with less than a 200m remaining, but Goucher was able to pull away in the final 50m to capture the gold.

“Goucher had a great kick a the finish and I just wasn’t able to keep up,” said an ecstatic Woods. “Each lap became easier and easier and I felt like I was really in a zone,” he added as he was swamped by an adoring crowd.

The capacity crowd of 6,000 rose to its feet to cheer on the two athletes as they battled to the finish line. “It’s always special to run at home, but coming down the stretch all I wanted to do was break the record. When I crossed and saw the time I just wanted to scream!”

It was the culmination of a special day for Woods who was earlier named the captain of Team Canada at a pep rally in front of an estimated 1,500 people on the Windsor riverfront.

Up next for Woods is the 1500m event on Sunday afternoon. During the event this evening he established a new personal best (3:41.43) in the 1500m en route to his record mile performance.

Source: Athletics Canada.

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