TORONTO – Canada’s Rachel Hannah just missed the podium in the women’s marathon Saturday at the Pan Am Games finishing in fourth place.
Peru’s Gladys Tejeda took the gold with a time of 2:33:03, setting a Pan Am games record. Brazil’s Adriana Aparecida Da Silva finished second and American Lindsay Flanagan finished third.
Hannah finished with a time of 2:41:06, eight minutes behind the leader. The 28-year-old Toronto native was one of only 11 runners to finish the race that saw several entrants drop out due to heat and humidity.
“We can confirm that two athletes from the women’s marathon event were treated for heat related symptoms at the Athletes’ Village polyclinic. There were no complications and both were discharged,” said Pan Am spokesperson Heather Irwin.
Despite the sweltering heat Hannah said it was an incredible experience of running in front of her hometown.
“Running in my hometown, it was incredible. It’s always an honour to run for Canada. It was so special to be right here in Toronto. The crowd support along the course made it go by a lot faster,” she said following the race.
READ MORE: Canadians surpass 100 medal-mark at Pan Am Games on Day 7
Fellow Canadian Catharine Watkins, of Vancouver B.C., finished in ninth place.
“The crowd was unbelievable! Toronto came out and all the way up the hill there were cheer stations. You just can’t help but smile,” Watkins said following the race. “That’s what got me through the race. Toronto was amazing. The crowd suport was phenomenal.”
Athletes competing in outdoor competition at the Pan Am Games will have to contend with the sweltering weather as Environment Canada issued a heat alert for the city of Toronto. Temperatures could see a high of 30 C but with the humidity it will feel closer to 38 C.
Canada completed the first week of competition at the Pan Am Games surpassing the 100-medal mark on Friday, and now has 110 medals, including 45 gold.
Comments