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Rogers wins world title in Finland

19-year-old from Richmond captures hammer throw gold at IAAF U20 Championships
Rogers
Camryn Rogers was all smiles today in Finland following her gold medal in the women's hammer throw event at the U20 World Championships

Camryn Rogers is a world champion.

The 19-year-old from Richmond captured today’s women’s hammer throw event at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

The Kajaks Track and Field Club member and University of Cal-Berkeley student won gold thanks to her opening throw of 64.90 metres — finishing ahead of American rival Alyssa Wilson (64.14). Cuba’s Yaritza Martinez (63.82) earned bronze.

“It sounds like a title I was hoping for but it’s not going to hit me for a while,” beamed Rogers in a post-event IAAF interview while draped in a Canadian flag. “Being out there throwing is the best thing in the world and being able to come away with a gold medal and that title just hones in how amazing this competition was.”

Making what proved to be the gold medal throw on her first attempt certainly weighed with Rogers as the event unfolded. She also had throws of 63.87, 63.78, 63.30 and 59.18 metres. She did not make her sixth and final attempt. 

“I just didn’t want to think about it because I was still in the competition so I was trying really hard to focus on what I had to do but it definitely sunk in a little bit and I got a little excited on the last throw,” she added.

Rogers graduated from McMath Secondary last year before launching her university career. She set a new Cal-Berkeley school record back in April with a throw of 65.61m.

She qualified for the 2016 U20 Worlds in Poland as one of the youngest athletes at the championships but did not advance to the finals. Her gold was Canada’s first medal at the championships.