Ten past and present University of Victoria athletes will represent Canada across multiple sports at the Pan American Games.
The Santiago, Chile-based event will feature Vikes in the rowing, rugby and field hockey events.
Among those rowers is the duo of Connor Attridge and Quinn Storey, two Vikes who have been training in recent months for both the Pan Am Games and the upcoming Canadian University Rowing Championship. TheyB次元官网网址檒l be joined by UVic womenB次元官网网址檚 rowing alumni Abby Speirs in the mixed eight event.
B次元官网网址淭his is the first (multisport) major event for both Quinn and I, so weB次元官网网址檙e pretty excited,B次元官网网址� Attridge said in a news release.
After seeing Canadian swimmer Maggie Mac Neil, who captured gold and two other medals at the Tokyo Olympics, at the airport, Attridge said itB次元官网网址檚 cool being around such high-level athletes.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing to be a part of an international event like this,B次元官网网址� he said.
A spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics will be on the line at the South American games for womenB次元官网网址檚 field hockey alumna Kathleen Leahy, Alexis DeArmond and Anna Mollenhauer. Mollenhauer was a three-time U SPORTS player of the year before she graduated last spring.
Topping the podium in Santiago will punch the field hockey teamB次元官网网址檚 ticket to Paris, while silver or bronze will earn them a spot in a last-chance qualifying tournament.
On the Rugby pitch, Carissa Norsten will make her Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 sevens debut at the Pan Am Games. Norsten, last yearB次元官网网址檚 U SPORTS rookie of the year, will be joined by former Vike Shayla Valenzuela, while alumni Lockie Kratz and Ethan Hager will compete on the menB次元官网网址檚 side.
It will be HagerB次元官网网址檚 second tournament with the Canadian menB次元官网网址檚 sevens team after he had an impressive debut in August with five tries at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens competition in Langford. That event saw CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 sevens team earn their Paris 2024 spot with a gold medal performance, while the menB次元官网网址檚 team placed second.
The Pan American Games begin on Oct. 20 and run until Nov. 5.
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