Track and field athlete hitting the international stage

UPDATE: Congratulations to Jordan on his seventh place finish at the 2013 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships

Dalhousie track and field star Jordan Bruce has had an eventful summer to say the least, and he’s getting his first taste of international competition.

The Dartmouth, NS native’s success started early this summer with a big win in the triple jump at the Junior National Track and Field Championships in Thérèse, Quebec. Jordan finished with an impressive 14.92m jump to take home the gold medal, finishing over 0.5m ahead of his competition.

This came as no surprise to his coach Kevin Bourgeois, “I knew that Jordan was in the mix for juniors, being one of the three who had a likely shot at the national title. On game day, he totally brought his A-game.”

“Winning Junior Nationals didn’t really hit me until hours after the competition, it felt almost like a dream,” says Bruce. “I had never expected to win such a big meet let alone qualify for Team Canada. Even when I was on top of the podium, it just didn’t feel real.”

While some people might choose to coast after such an impressive victory, Bruce has continued to train harder and harder to help himself improve.

“My training has been really intense over the past few months,” continues Bruce. “My coach and I have been focusing lots of our training sessions on speed, strength and technique. Lots of running, lots of lifting and lots of jumping!”

Bruce took to the national stage again this summer participating in his first Canada Games in Sherbrooke, QC last week. He originally planned to compete in the hurdles as well as the triple jump, but an injury forced him to pull out of the hurdles. Bruce finished in second place at the Canada Games with a 14.79m jump, finishing only 0.03m out of first place.

With a spot on Canada’s national junior team secured, Bruce is now in Medellin, Columbia competing in the 2013 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships in the triple jump, which runs August 23-25. Coach Kevin Bourgeois explains that this will be a true test for Jordan.

“I think Pan Am’s could be a good learning experience and real eye-opener to the level of competition out there worldwide,” says Bourgeois. “The top jumpers at that meet are amongst the best juniors in the world at this moment.”

Through his success, Jordan has not forgotten all the people who have helped him get him where he is today.

“I’d just like to thank everyone who has been supporting me over the years,” says Bruce. “Especially all of the Dalhousie track and field coaches, my HaliFAST teammates and everyone from my old club, Chebucto Athletics. I couldn’t have done it without all of you!”

To follow Bruce’s progress as well as other Canadian athletes at the Pan Am games, check out www.athletics.ca