Hammer throw women sweep podium as Athletics bring in 21 more medals

Team BC continued their athletics medal haul today, Aug. 10, at Timberlea Athletics Park, where Regan Yee raced the third best time in Canadian history in the 2000m steeplechase and BC swept the podium in the women’s hammer throw. 

To start the morning off Team BC race walkers Stephanie Cho and Erik Thies won the women’s and men’s events, respectively. Cho crossed in 39:17.99 and was the only female competitor, while Thies crossed in 22:59.78 beating out Yukon’s Philip Smith (36:36.46).

Following Cohen Willett’s gold medal in the hammer throw two days ago, 19-year-old Natasha Azkbarizadeh (Maple Ridge) made it a BC sweep winning gold in the women’s 4Kg hammer throw with a 54.61m throw. 

“I was feeling really confident in the circle,” said Azkbarizadeh said the. “Right before my last throw Camryn had her last throw and she threw a 54.14 so I knew I had to step up my game! I was able to throw one just past her. It was nerve racking but I’m glad she was there to help push me.”

Hammer throw teammates Camryn Rogers and Chanell Botsis earned silver and bronze to complete the podium sweep.

Jerome Blake showed his strength in short distance track adding his second gold medal, this time in the 200m. Following his 100m gold-medal win Blake crossed in 21.20 to claim the 200m title, too. 

In Special Olympics, Michael Savage won gold in the long jump (5.57m), while the women also got on the podium. Special Olympics long jumper April Armstrong won silver in 3.70m and teammate Abigale Calvert took home bronze (3.15m).

Reid Muller earned a silver medal in the 800m event after original Manitoba’s Shane Dillon was disqualified for an infraction at the start of the race. Muller crossed in 1:52.45 behind first-placed Alex Eiswerth (1:52.09).

In women’s steeplechase, 20-year-old Regan Yee made it two-for-two after winning gold in the 1500m on Saturday. In her only other event the Trinity Western University student-athlete raced the third-best time in Canadian history to take gold in the 2000m steeplechase in 6:34.90. Teammate Chelsea Ribeiro took silver in 7:13.90.

In the 1500m wheelchair event Sedrick Skabar added to his medal count after he crossed in 4:47.39 for silver. Dakota Darling also medaled crossing in 5:15.78 for bronze. 

In men’s long jump, Vladislav Moldavanov won silver with a jump of 6.92m and Valda Kaydee Kabia won silver in the 200m women’s race. 

Later in the day Brent Reston took home gold in the men’s javelin with a 59.78m throw, while John Gay and Nickolas Colyn placed second and third, respectively, in the 3000m men’s steeplechase.

To cap off the night the men’s 4x100m relay team of Adeyemi Taylor-Lewis, Rostam Turner, Francis Klimo and Blake won gold beating out Alberta with a time of 41.08. The women’s 4x100m team won bronze.

The final athletics action continues tomorrow, Aug. 11, with the conclusion of the heptathlon and women’s 400m hurdles, 3000m, javelin, high jump, shot put, as well as both 4x400m relays.

August 10th Medals

GOLD

Stephanie Cho, 5000m Race Walk Women (39:17.99)
Erik Thies, 5000m Race Walk Men (22:59.78)
Natasha Akbarizadeh, Hammer Throw 4Kg Open Women (54.61m)
Michael Savage, Long Jump Special Olympics Men (5.57m)
Jerome Blake, 200m Men (21.20)
Regan Yee, 2000m Steeplechase Women (6:34.90)
Brent Reston, Javelin Throw Men (59.78m)
Adeyemi Taylor-Lewis, Rostam Turner, Francis Klimo, Jerome Blake, 4x100m Men (41.08)

SILVER
Camryn Rogers, Hammer Throw 4Kg Open Women (54.14m)
Sedrick Skabar, 1500m Wheel Chair (4:47.39)
Vladislav Moldavanov, Long Jump Men (6.92m)
April Armstrong, Long Jump Special Olympics Women (3.70m)
Reid Muller, 800m Men (1:52.45)
Valda Kaydee Kabia, 200m Women (25.26)
Chelsea Ribeiro, 2000m Steeplechase Women (7:13.90)
John Gay, 3000m Steeplechase Men (9:15.79)

BRONZE
Chanell Botsis, Hammer Throw 4Kg Open Women (52.35m)
Dakota Darling, 1500m Wheel Chair (5:15.78)
Abigale Calvert, Long Jump Special Olympics Women (3.15m)
Nickolas Colyn, 3000m Steeplechase Men (9:29.63)
Shania Payne, Rachel Shuttleworth, Stephanie Cho, Valda Kaydee Kabia, 4x100m Women (48.59)