The 2023 NACAC U23 & U18 Championships, a highly anticipated biennial athletics competition, brought together talented athletes from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Held in San José, Costa Rica, July 21-23 2023, the event was organized jointly by World Athletics and the North America, Central America, and Caribbean Athletic Association. Among the participants, numerous athletes from British Columbia represented the Canadian National Team, showcasing their skills on the international stage.
U18 Sprint Races:
BC athletes were well represented in the sprint races. Adam Sieben competed in the U18 Men 100m heats, recording a time of 11.47. Meanwhile, Makenna Self raced in the U18 Women's category, crossing the line with a time of 12.31 in the 100m heats.
Iyimi Fagbamiye progressed from the U18 Men 110m hurdles heats, by running a time of 14.43. He carried this momentum into the final, securing a 5th place finish with a time of 14.25, despite facing a slight headwind.
Chloe Symon's Spectacular Performance:
Chloe Symon, undoubtedly was one of the standout performers from BC. She dominated the U18 Girls 400m, breaking the 56-second barrier for the first time and setting a massive personal best of 55.37, which earned her the gold medal. She finished ahead of her closest competitor by 0.40 seconds. Symon's outstanding form continued as she was part of the Canadian U18 Women's 4x400m team, which came out victorious with a time of 3:49.97. This was Symon's second gold of the championships.
U23 BC Athletes on the Podium:
The U23 BC athletes demonstrated their experience at high level competition, achieving impressive results in their respective events. Callum Robinson, hailing from Victoria, BC, and a member of the Eastern Michigan University track and field team, claimed the gold medal in the U23 Men's 200m with a remarkable mark of 20.52, achieving a new personal best.
Holly MacGillivray, who runs for the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Thunderbirds, showcased her talent by securing 3rd in the 1500m with a time of 4:15.99. This achievement added to her 2023 season accolades as she was the NAIA 1500m runner-up and was part of the gold medal winning 4x800m relay team.
Rounding out the U23 BC athletes was Aidan Grout, a high jump specialist from Pitt Meadows who also competes for the University of Toronto. He soared to a 5th place finish with a mark of 2.10m.
An Unforgettable Experience:
The 2023 NACAC U23 & U18 Championships provided an extraordinary experience for all participating athletes, with moments of triumph, personal bests, and medals to take back home to Canada. With the success of the NACAC Championships behind them, BC athletes now set their sights on the Bell Canadian Track and Field Championships and Legion Nationals.
The 2023 NACAC U23 & U18 Championships, a highly anticipated biennial athletics competition, brought together talented athletes from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Held in San José, Costa Rica, July 21-23 2023, the event was organized jointly by World Athletics and the North America, Central America, and Caribbean Athletic Association. Among the participants, numerous athletes from British Columbia represented the Canadian National Team, showcasing their skills on the international stage.
U18 Sprint Races:
BC athletes were well represented in the sprint races. Adam Sieben competed in the U18 Men 100m heats, recording a time of 11.47. Meanwhile, Makenna Self raced in the U18 Women's category, crossing the line with a time of 12.31 in the 100m heats.