John Gay ws send Canadian steeplechase tle fal tunp for world champs

— At this time last year, John Gay was chasg down the Olympic 3, 000-metre steeplechase standard a torrential downpour Montreal wh nobody to ph him, and no fans to cheer him on. "It's different when you have guys breathg down your neck like that, but 's the way racg should be, " Gay said. Gay was en route to Europe for a last-dch shot at Tokyo's Olympic standard last year when his gut told him durg a stopover Montreal to stay Canada.

Gay and Smeeton have already met the world standard.

Gay hop that Friday's tight race clch Dgagn, a Laval Universy medil stunt, a spot on the team based on rankg. Gay said was btersweet to race at natnals on the heels of longtime Canadian steeplechaser Matt Hugh' retirement due to jury,.

GAY

Would all say that's been a blsg to dovetail our reers wh the end of his, " Gay said. John Gay.

John Gay’s Olympic dream was born the summer of 2016. He spent the summer trag wh Canadian Olympic steeplechaser Chris Wter and “up until that pot, seemed so distant but gettg to know Chris, and others who would later reprent Canada that summer, had a humanizg effect for me, ” said Gay. Te to his word, Gay put the work and five years later he’s ready to reprent Canada on the world’s biggt stage.

Gay spent months racg the U. As a last-dch effort, Gay jumped on a plane and head to Swen the fal weekend of June.

JOHN GAY SNAGS CANADIAN STEEPLE TLE AND OLYMPIC STANDARD

Gay ran seven solo laps at Montreal’s Cl Robillard Sports Complex for an 8:20.

JOHN GAY - STRAG & STRIVG TO TOKYO

“It was kd of the storybook endg to this long chase of a season, ” said Gay followg the race.

Up until that night Montreal, Gay’s 2019 season had been his bt to date. After nng cross untry high school, Gay moved om Kelowna to Vanuver for universy and ran as a Universy of Brish Columbia Thunrbird.