One of the Cowichan Valley’s athletes is already sporting gold from her performance at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago Chile, but the region’s other competitors have had to wait for the Games’ second week for their events to begin.
Maple Bay resident Jenn Jackson took gold in the Women’s Olympic Cross-Country event, which ran on Oct. 21, the day after the Games opening ceremony.
Though Cowichan’s other athletes had to wait, Cobble Hill athletic therapist Jennifer Massingham got to watch Team Canada rowers make history on Oct. 24, winning gold in the first-ever Women’s Eight event at the Pan AmGames.
Massingham, Rowing Canada Aviron’s lead therapist, had been to the World Games before but not the Pan Ams.
“It was incredibly rewarding to see the athletes give their all in every race,” she said. “They worked so hard in training and to see them grow over the regatta and have spectacular races was amazing. To have four medals and several photo finishes was exciting to be a part of.”
The Women’s Eight, which attends training camps at Rowing Canada’s National Training Centre on Quamichan Lake, included Kendra Hartley, Olivia McMurray, Alizée Brien, Parker Illingworth, Abby Speirs, Caroline De Paiva, Abigail Dent, Leia Till, and cox Kristen Kit.
“The team blended beautifully, despite only being together since September,” Massingham said. “They were the right blend of fun, compassionate, and energetic and ruthless in the boat. It was a great group to work with.”
Team Canada’s women also earned silver in the Women’s Pair, and bronze in the both the Women’s Double, and Women’s Quad.
Meanwhile, Duncan’s Sara Goodman, who made the Canadian field hockey team, didn’t kick off her games until Team Canada’s first preliminary match on Oct. 26 against Cuba, when they dominated play and won by a 7-1 score.
Canada then faced the hosts, Chile, on Oct. 28, falling 2-0 before beating Mexico 5-0 on Oct. 30.
Their preliminary record has moved Team Canada into the field hockey semi-finals on Nov. 2 against Argentina. Chile will play USA in the other semi-final. The medal matches are slated for Nov. 4.
Cowichan Bay’s Desirae Ridenour, who participated in the 2019 Games in Lima, Peru, competes in the women’s individual triathlon today (Nov. 2). She’ll swim 1.5 km, cycle 40 km and run 10 km in her quest for the podium. Her results weren’t available by press time.
Meanwhile, the rugby sevens competition — featuring Queen Margaret’s School 2021 graduate Carissa Norsten for the women, and Mill Bay/Brentwood product Matt Percillier for the men — kicks off tomorrow (Nov. 3) and the Canadian women will face Chile to start their tournament before matching up with Mexico and then Brazil later that same day while the men face Brazil first, followed by Mexico and USA.
