American J-Mee Samuels (Winston-Salem, NC) (© Victah Sailer)
Windsor, Ontario, CanadaThe United States of America increased its medal haul by 18, including six golds on the second day of the 2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships at the University of Windsor Stadium in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
The host Canadians added a pair of medals on Saturday night including a national record setting performance by sprinter Justyn Warner of Toronto.
Brazil’s Heitling breaks Pan Am Junior Record
Brazilian Sabine Letícia Heitling became the first athlete to break a record at the 2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships on Saturday night as she established a new mark in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase at the University of Windsor Stadium in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
The Brazilian finished the race in a time of 10:04.69 and shattered the previous mark by just under three seconds. The record was held by American Katy Trotter who finished the 3km event in 10:07.55 in May 2004.
The sold out crowd of more than 5000 rose to its feet, cheering Heitling down the stretch as she finished 23-seconds ahead of her closest competitor Marie Lawrence of the United States.
By shattering the Pan American junior record, the Brazilian also set the meet standard, as this was the first time that the 3000m Steeplechase has been contested at the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Prior to this year’s championship, the women competed in a 2km version of the event.
Record equalled
American J-Mee Samuels (Winston-Salem, NC) tied the Pan American Junior Athletics Championship record, finishing the 100-metres dash in a time of 10.20 seconds, while Canadian Justyn Warner (Toronto, ON) established a new Canadian junior mark (10.26 seconds) Saturday night at the University of Windsor Stadium.
Samuels tied the meet record set by fellow countryman Stanley Kerr who established the benchmark on July 5, 1986 in Winter Park, USA. Warner meanwhile, broke an 11-year-old national junior record with his performance. The record was previously held by Carlton Chambers.
Samuels, who has recently been bothered by a nagging hamstring injury says that the injury was not a factor in tonight’s final. “I’m surprised that my hamstring didn’t bother me like it did in the first heat. But this time it didn’t bother me at all during my race.”
Warner was also focused on the finish line and wasn’t bothered by the 5000 fans cheering for him during the race. “When I get in the blocks I don’t think of anything, I just run.”
Warner, a Toronto native, bettered the Canadian junior record of 10.30 seconds, which Carlton Chambers held since 1994.
Action at the three-day championship concludes on Sunday (31 July) with the final 21 medals being presented, including the men’s Hammer Throw and Discus, two events that were postponed on Saturday after one of the competitors in the Hammer Throw hit the protective cage with the hammer late in the fifth round of the event.
John Bower for the IAAF
