Posted: July 30, 2005

Athletics: Sarnia’s Alyson Kolmeier wins gold in 3,000 at Pan Am junior track and field championships

WINDSOR, Ont.- Alyson Kohlmeier of Sarnia, Ont., headlined a big opening day for Canada at the 38-country Pan American junior track and field championships on Friday with a gold medal performance in the women’s 3,000 metre race.

Mandy McBean of Scarborough, Ont., added a bronze in the same race while hurdler Genevieve Thibault of Val-Belair, Que., shot-putter Kyle Helf of Alliston, Ont., and long jumper Seyi Smith of Ottawa each posted third place finishes as well.

In the women’s 3,000, Kohlmeier clocked 9:25.09 to finish ahead of Ines Melchor of Peru in second at 9:36.24 and McBean third in 9:42.75.

“With these races, you never really know what people’s strategies are going to be,” said Kolhmeier. “I knew we were eventually going to get going. I just felt really good at the halfway mark even though the time was a little slow from what I’m used to. I was feeling good and I just went for it.”

“Aly and I were working together to help each other out,” added McBean. “I was trying hard to keep up but she was doing great. Our goal was to have two Canadians on the podium and we did it – we knew we were two of the top seeds and wanted to put in a good performance.”

In the women’s 100-metre hurdles, Latoya Greaves led Jamaica to a 1-2 finish clocking 13.38 seconds with Natasha Ruddock second in 13.42 and Thibault, who is competing in four events this weekend, third in 13.50 – a personal bets time. Nikkita Holder of Pickering, Ont., was seventh in 13.78.

Thibault also finished eighth in the women’s 100-metre final clocking 11.90. The 18-year-old triple gold medallist at junior nationals three weeks ago will also race the 200 sprint and the 4X100 relay this weekend.

“I’m very tired, it was tough to do four races,” said Thibault, who did heats in both events as well on Friday. “I certainly had a great start in the hurdles but I couldn’t sustain that kind of performance in the sprint final.”

In men’s shot-put, Ryan Whiting of the U.S., was the winner with a winning 19.75 metre toss. His compatriot Nathan Englin was second at 19.61 while Helf threw 18.21 edging teammate Michael Barnes of Caledonia, Ont., fourth at 18.20.

“I was frustrated, it was just one of those days,” said Helf. “I need to just take it as it comes. I was hoping for a Canadian record especially that this is my last year as a junior but my problem had to do with technique.”

In the men’s long jump, Robert Rands was the winner leaping 7.60 metres, Jermaine Jackson of Jamaica was second at 7.59 and Smith third at 7.27. Chris Greenaway of Brossard, Que., was 13th.

“I’m happy with how I jumped today,” said Smith. “Realistically I finished where I expected. The weather was bad at first but when the rain stopped, I managed to get a good jump on my final attempt.”

Other Canadian performances in finals Friday: Jake Gallagher of Bedford, N.S., and Jeremy Fisico of Windsor were fourth and fifth in the men’s 5,000; Philip Garratt of Toronto was fifth in the men’s pole vault; Jamie Ryder of London, Ont., was sixth in the men’s 110-metre hurdles; Adams Wolkins of Sherlburne, N.S., seventh and Alex Bernard of Rockland, Ont., 10th in the men’s javelin; Mikaela Patterson of Abbotsford, B.C., and Kaitlyn Andrews of Georgetown, Ont., were 12th and 14th in the women’s shotput.

Canada has a record 77 athletes at the competition being held at the new University of Windsor stadium which seats 5,000. At the 2003 Pan Am Juniors in Barbados, Canada won 11 medals.

Competition continues through to Sunday.