Woods Breaks 22 Year Old Junior Record in the Mile
Posted Friday, 29 July, 2005
WINDSOR, Ont. (CP) — Mike Woods of Ottawa smashed a 22-year-old Canadian record in winning silver in the mile run at the Pan American junior athletics championships.
Woods, 19, was timed in three minutes 57.48 seconds Thursday night. The previous best by a Canadian was 3:58.08 by Mark Olsen in 1983.
"It's always special to run at home but coming down the stretch all I wanted to do was break the record," said Woods. "When I crossed and saw the time, I just wanted to scream!"
Woods set a Canadian junior record in the 3,000-metre run earlier this summer in Ottawa.
Trailing through the first 2 1/2 laps Thursday, Woods pulled even with eventual winner Adam Goucher of the United States with less than a 200 metres remaining. Goucher was able to pull away in the final 50 to win gold in 3:56.15.
"Goucher had a great kick at 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."
The capacity crowd of 6,000 rose to its feet to cheer on the two athletes as they battled to the finish line.
Finishing fourth was Ryan McKenzie of Windsor in 4:01.4.
It was the culmination of a special day for Woods, who was earlier named captain of Canada's team at a pep rally in front of 1,500 onlookers on the border city's waterfront.
Next up for Woods is the 1,500-metre run Sunday afternoon.
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