Jeremiah Lauzon, 19, won gold in the 200 metre race at the Canadian Track and Field Championships held in Montreal over the weekend. (File Photo)

By Sheldon Spackman

National Champion

Lauzon wins gold at Canadian Track and Field Championships

Jul 29, 2019 | 12:58 PM

A local track star from Red Deer is celebrating a gold medal performance at the Canadian Track and Field Championships held in Montreal over the weekend.

Jeremiah Lauzon, a graduate of Lindsay Thurber High School and member of the Red Deer Titans Track and Field Club, won the 200 metre final on Sunday with a time of 21.24 seconds.

Lauzon says he’s happy to win of course but due to catching a cold shortly before the event, was not feeling well enough to equal his personal best time of 20.90.

“It’s cool being able to see some of the bigger names in track from Canada,” says Lauzon. “Just meeting those people and being there is a fun experience.”

Lauzon earlier finished fifth in the 200 metres at the Pan American U20 Championships in Costa Rica July 19-21, earning a time of 21.18 seconds.

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After making the U20 National Team in June of this year but turning down a chance to join the U23 National Team, Lauzon now plans to focus his sights on NCAA Nationals next year.

“This year, there’s a pretty good chance I would have medaled and I think there’s a pretty good chance I win the Division 2 Nationals next year,” he exclaims.

Though pleased overall with how his season has turned out and all the support he’s received from Red Deer Titans Track and Field and ASDC – Central for example, Lauzon feels there’s still room for improvement as far as his times are concerned.

“There’s definitely a large amount of times I wish were much better than what they are,” laments Lauzon. “It would have been nice to go under 21 more than once.”

Lauzon’s coach Ronald Hewer says being the fastest under-20 runner in Canada in the 200 metres is a great accomplishment, going from sixth in the province two years ago to number one in the country right now.

“He’s had a great season,” says Hewer. “We had a wonderful experience at the Pan Am Games in Costa Rica but on his return, he caught a very bad cold on the plane but with good sleep and focus, he had a wonderful semi-final, won his heat, then went to the final ranked number one. At about the 150 mark, he secured his number one ranking and finished first with a gold medal.”

Hewer says winning the National Championship was Lauzon’s goal the entire season.

“To come out with that goal accomplished was quite rewarding,” he admits. “He’s got one more competition this Friday where he’s representing his sponsor (JOMA). After that competition, Jeremiah will take about a two week break, let his body relax and then he will get back into the weight room and he’ll focus in the weight room for the next two months.”

Later this fall, Hewer says Lauzon will attend Simon Fraser University on an athletic scholarship.

“While he’s there, he will train with them,” explains Hewer. “Then I’ve got him on a platform to get him ready for the Olympic trials next year, June 24-28 back in Montreal again. Jeremiah should be in the final.”

That experience adds Hewer, should see Lauzon compete against the likes of Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown.

“We’re going to work hard so we can hopefully get into the top four,” says Hewer. “I’m proud of Jeremiah obviously for his accomplishments but I’m also proud of him as a human being, he is an amazing young man. It literally brings tears to my eyes the joy I have for him as a man, as an athlete and the pride I have for Red Deer, his family and for him and I as coach-athlete.”