2015 Summer Universiade: Brittany Crew wins bronze in shot put, Canada’s fifth medal

GWANGJU, South Korea (Team Canada) – Brittany Crew won the bronze medal in shot put on Saturday night at the Gwangju Main Stadium. The East York, Ont., native made the podium with a personal best performance on a night which saw many Canadian highlights. 

Gwangju 2015 website: www.gwangju2015.com

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2015/index

Team Canada Twitter: @CDNUniversiade | #goCanadaU 

On her fourth attempt, Crew (York University) threw 17.27 metres before celebrating with a shout of joy. The 2015 CIS Track and Field field Athlete of the Year's previous personal best was a 16.59 in 2014.

"When I was warming up I knew I had a chance because of the rain but I never thought I'd actually do it," said Crew. "I came in ranked sixth, so I knew that I would have to have a big PB in order to be on the podium. Once I got in the circle it was the most beautiful circle I've ever thrown in." 

"As soon as it left my hand I knew it was going to be big. I can't describe the feeling that came over me. For me to have that big PB and to stand on the podium is a double-win for me." 

Alex Porlier-Langlois of Saint-Cesaire, Que., (University of Hawaii at Manoa) also competed in the shot put final. She finished in tenth place with a top distance of 14.73 metres.

After completing the long jump in the morning session, the women's heptathlon wrapped up in the evening with the javelin and 800-metres. In the final standings, Georgia Ellenwood of Langley, B.C. (Wisconsin-Madison) placed fifth. She finished seventh in the long jump, fifth in javelin, and finished the night with a fourth place finish in the 800m. 

After finishing fourth in the long jump, Nicole Oudenaarden (University of Calgary) won the javelin section. The student-athlete hailing from St. Albert, Alta., took the event with a throw of 43.61m. Oudenaarden then finished sixth in the 800m to claim seventh place in the overall standings.

Rachel Cliff of Vancouver, B.C. (UBC), was at the front of the pack with three laps remaining in the 5000 metres. She was unable to stay with the leaders in the final 500-metres and finished in ninth place with a time of 16:13.08. 

In the 3000m steeplechase, Ryan Brockerville of Marystown, Nfld., (Simon Fraser University) finished in eighth place with a time of 8:46.14. 

Earlier in the day, the Canadian 4x100 relay teams took part in the heats. The women's team turned in a time of 45.06 to finish second in their group and qualify for the final on Sunday. The men's team time of 40.30 was not enough to advance to the final. 

University of Victoria students Adam Paul-Morris of South Surrey, B.C., and Brendon Restall of Victoria ran in the semifinals of the 800-metres. Their times of 1:49.56 and 1:50.41, respectively, did not qualify them to the final. 

In the morning, Aubrey Smith (Florida International University) missed the final round of the men's long jump by 20 centimetres. The Richmond Hill, Ont., native recorded a distance of 7.36 metres.

Source: CIS