VANCOUVER – UBC track and field's
John Gay has already logged a lot of kilometres in 2017, both on the track and in airplanes. Gay was part of the Team Canada's contingent for the 8th Francophone Games, being held in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, and on Monday he finished fourth in his specialty event, the 3000 metre steeplechase.
"I'm really pleased with how the race played out, racing in the difficult climate here had its challenges," said Gay. "I'm grateful for the all the time and preparation put in by my team here to ensure that I was as prepared as possible come race day."
Gay did not let the searing West African heat effect him, as he ran a very tactical 8:55.41, finishing only behind a runner from Tunisia and two from Morocco.
"To finish fourth in a tactical race has left me hungry for more," explained Gay. "As I move towards my next opportunity to represent Canada at the World University Games in a month's time, I'm excited to get back to work and put myself in the hunt for a medal next time around."
With the Summer Universiade being in Taipei, Taiwan on August 19-30, Gay will mark 2017 by competing on three of the world's continents to go along captaining UBC's first ever NAIA track and field championship squad.
"This trip has been an incredible growth experience for me and I'm so grateful to all those who have played a role in getting me to where I am, including the support network of coaches, teammates, and staff at UBC."
The Francophone Games are a combination of artistic and sporting events for mostly French-speaking nations, held every four years since 1989, similar in concept to the Commonwealth Games.
