Stephen Evans made all the right decisions down the final 40 metres of the University of Windsor track to capture the U SPORTS silver medal in the men's 600m. The fourth-year political science student stepped onto the podium to receive his first career U SPORTS medal, capping a season of development with a triumphant race.
Also on the final day of competition at the U SPORTS 2018 Track and Field Nationals, the Gee-Gees women's relay team of Stephanie Gould, Madison Clarke, Maeliss Trapeau, and Sophia Skorenky finished fifth with a time of 3:49.16.
The Gee-Gees women finished competition with a 12th place result in the team standings.
Evans had the fastest final split time in the 600m event, catapulting himself up in the pack. "I didn't have a favourable lane, but to me that doesn't matter," noted Evans of his lane one starting position and referencing Wayde van Niekerk's world record time at the Rio Olympics. "I took into consideration the guys around me, but it's all about what I can do. I just kept telling myself I could do it because I knew I could."
"I saw about three guys in front of me in the last forty metres," explained Evans. "I knew I was going to have to move out because they could feel me on their tail. I took a step out to the side, and said let's burn them down the wide side."
"He ran an aggressive race, and what really helped him today was that he also did not panic," noted Evans' coach, Normand Seguin. "He slowly got his position and when he moved there was no hesitation. He's very competitive and the most consistent guy."
"It's emotional. Positivity is huge, and the people around me allow me to be positive. I have the best coach, the best team mates, the best city, the best family. I just had to put it all together," concluded Evans.
The University of Ottawa will celebrate Evans' medal win with an event on campus on Tuesday, March 13. More details will follow on www.geegees.ca
For complete results from the 2018 U SPORTS Track and Field Nationals, visit http://www.windsortiming.com/LiveResults/2018/USport/
