Track North Athletic Club's Ross Proudfoot, (Lively, ON) was the top
finishing Canadian at the 39th IAAF World Cross-Country Championships
contested today in Punta Umbria, Spain. Competing in the Junior's Men's
8 kilometre race, Proudfoot finished in 49th position with a time of 24
minutes and 53 seconds. Canada placed 12th in the team event beating out
teams from Spain, Algeria, Russia, Brazil and Tunisia. As expected Kenya
and Ethiopia battled it out for top spot with Kenya eventually taking the
gold and Ethiopia settling for silver. Uganda won bronze.
Canada entered teams in both the men's and women's junior (19 and under) and
senior races and Proudfoot's performance was the best of any Canadian on the
day.
"Ross had a great race. He went out confidently, took a risk with a fast
start and hung on well. He had a good battle going with some of the
Americans and finished strongly" commented Team Canada Head Coach, Dave
Scott-Thomas following the race.
Proudfoot could not be reached for comment immediately following the race
and is currently in transit back to Canada.
"To place in the top half of what is considered the hardest running race in
the world to win, and to again lead the Canadian team is an impressive
accomplishment" commented Proudfoot's Track North coach, Darren Jermyn.
"Ross has come a long way in the past year and its exciting to think of what
he will do in the future."
This race caps off an incredible past 8 months that saw Proudfoot accomplish
the following:
- 14th place over 5000m at IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships
- OUA and CIS Rookie of the Year and All-Canadian in Cross-Country
- 2010 Canadian National Junior Cross-Country Champion
- 2011 North American, Central American, Caribbean (NACAC) Cross-Country
Champion
- 2011 OUA Indoor Track Rookie of the Year and OUA 3000m gold medallist
- 2011 CIS Indoor Track bronze medal over 1500m
Attached photos - from 39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships - taken
by Dawson Proudfoot
Full meet results at:
http://www.iaaf.org/wxc11/results/eventCode=4527/sex=M/discCode=XJ/combCode=hash/roundCode=f/results.html#det
