Boxer Kenny Lally and High Jumper Alyx Treasure have a dream of competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics (August 5-21) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Both Prince George athletes have plenty of work ahead of them in order to qualify, but the two Canadian champions benefited greatly with their positive experience at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Lally did not achieve his ultimate goal of gold in the bantamweight 56 Kilos weight class, however, he is proud of his bronze medal performance.
“It’s a great feeling. Where I started from–13 years old, 78 pounds, fighter out of Prince George, B.C. and now I’m on the biggest stage getting a bronze medal. It feels good.”
The 26-year-old scored a close victory over Segundo Padilla of Ecuador in his first bout before dropping a 3-0 decision to top seed Andy Cruz of Cuba in the semi-finals. Cruz was clearly more polished, seasoned and aggressive in victory.
Lally acknowledged that Cruz is the “elite of the elite.” “To see a talent (Cruz) of that face to face, I have the most respect for that guy. I just could not find him. I’m happy with the outcome. I did everything I could. I just couldn’t touch the guy.”
Lally learned first hand a valuable lesson about the level he needs to achieve in order to enhance his efforts going forward.
The Inner City fighter doesn’t have much time to prepare for the Continental Men’s Championships Aug 15-23 in Venezuela. It’s a qualifier for the World Championships in Quatar in October which determines who advances to next year’s Olympics.
Treasure admits she would have been happier with a personal best or higher placing but looks favourably on her 7th place finish out of 16 in the women’s high jump. “Everything being considered I’m content with everything that happened. I had a solid meet. I wanted to go higher but I don’t think I messed anything up too badly so I’m okay with it.”
The 23-year-old Treasure was successful at 1.85 metres, however, she missed her three leaps at 1.88 which is slightly below her personal best of 1.89.
Treasure was overwhelmed with having a huge Canadian crowd behind her and stated she has never had so much support.
Her season, much of it with Kansas State, is now complete. Treasure realizes she will need to jump considerably higher in order to achieve Olympic standards. The goal has been set. Determination will help dictate if it is achieved.
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I doubt there are many cities like Prince George that can boast about having three of its athletes compete on the same day in a top notch international competition like the Pan Am Games.
While Lally and Treasure completed their events on Wednesday, PG’s Amanda Asay was helping the Canadian women’s baseball team to another victory.
The 27-year-old Asay, the team’s DH, took to the mound in the 7th and final inning, earning the save without allowing a run in a 3-2 victory over Puerto Rico.
Canada, guaranteed a medal and a win away from a berth in Sunday’s gold medal game, is 3-0 with one round robin game left against 3-0 United States.
Asay, in the clean-up spot, is 2-for-9 at the plate over three games.
This is the first time women’s baseball has been featured at the Pan Am Games as Asay and her Canadian teammates make the most of the glorious opportunity.
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The men’s world golf rankings don’t put enough stock in the results of the four Majors.
Jordan Spieth’s performance this year has elevated him to the best golfer on the planet, yet Rory McIlroy continues to have the #1 ranking (a total of 89 weeks).
At 14-under, Spieth came up a shot shy of a playoff at the (British) Open, but the like-able 21-year-old Texan felt he played better at St Andrew’s than when he captured the US Open at Chambers Bay.
Just how good is Spieth in 2015? In the three majors, (Masters (18 under), U.S. Open (5 under) and The Open (14 under) he has a combined score of 37 under par —- best of any golfer EVER.
It’s far too early to compare Spieth to legends like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, however, his result last weekend was reminiscent of the outcomes for Palmer in 1960 and Nicklaus in 1972.
Each arrived at The Open looking for a third straight major victory and ended up missing by a single shot.
Spieth’s demeanour, competitiveness and even keel approach have propelled his game into must watch TV.
Yes, it’s refreshing that golf has a much needed new Superstar. The time has arrived to follow and feature Spieth’s grace rather than Tiger’s disgrace.
From the Quote Rack:
Santa Claus threw a terrible first pitch at a recent Tigers game. The good news for him is that it wasn’t in Philadelphia.
This just in—Donald Trump disputes Brett Favre’s service to the Packers.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
DeAndre Jordan, on his convoluted return to the Clippers – “When free agency started, this whole fiasco was not my intent.” Sounds like DeAndre’s intentions were as on target as his free throw shooting.
Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants has been diagnosed with a degenerative hip condition. No doubt after he got the diagnosis Timmy had one question – “Medical marijuana?”
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Defections have been a big story during the Pan Am Games in Toronto. Two Cubans left the baseball team during tune-up games in the U.S., and this week four Phillies asked for asylum with the Blue Jays.
Our expression of the day is “Too little, too late.” Example: CFL announcer Rod Black reportedly lost his voice last year — for eight days, right after the Eastern Final.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Jason Pierre Paul of the New York Giants won’t sign a contract offer right now as he is learning to write with his other hand.
Coach Rex Ryan is now a skydiver. On opening day in Buffalo, he will try to parachute into Ralph Wilson Stadium, but Jets fans are planning to sabotage the flight so he lands at The Skydome instead.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)
And in case you missed it:
Tiger Woods fires swing coach Charles Barkley.
Headline at SportsPickle.com
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller