"Proudfoot set to compete for Canada this weekend at international cross-country race"
Track North's Ross Proudfoot (Lively, ON) will again compete for Canada this upcoming weekend at the North American Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross-Country Running Championships in Trinidad.
Proudfoot and his junior aged (19 and under) teammates will compete over a 6 kilometre course at Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Saturday, Feb 19th.
Team anticipated to compete include: United States, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada.
Proudfoot qualified for Team Canada by winning the Canadian National Junior Cross-Country Championships last November in Guelph, ON.
Currently in his first year at the University of Guelph, Proudfoot last competed for Canada at the World Junior Track and Field Championships last July in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Q and A with Ross Proudfoot:
What does it mean to represent you country again?
"Being able to wear the Canadian jersey has been the biggest moment in my running career so far, so to be able to once again represent Canada in the same year is even more exciting for me."
"Being able to wear the Canadian jersey has been the biggest moment in my running career so far, so to be able to once again represent Canada in the same year is even more exciting for me."
How have you prepared for this competition?
"Having already had the chance to compete in international competition definitely has helped me prepare mentally for this event. I know what to expect at events like this, and should be very comfortable heading into my race. As for training before this competition it has been a little harder to prepare for as I have also been running an indoor track season as well as had some injury problems. But despite that, I've still been able to get outside and get some good cross country workouts in, and have also been running running quite well on the track."
What are your expectations for this competition?
"Looking at the times from the United States nationals and how the competition normally plays out at this event, I'm looking at running up with the front group and seeing how it plays out."
"Looking at the times from the United States nationals and how the competition normally plays out at this event, I'm looking at running up with the front group and seeing how it plays out."
Proudfoot's Track North coach, Darren Jermyn, noted:
"Ross appears to have overcome his injury woes in December and early January and is running very well right now. He has set new personal bests over both the mile and 3000m distances on the university indoor track circuit already this winter so I anticipate the jump up to 6 kilometres will not be a major issue."
