Canadian women’s team pursuit squad wins Pan Am gold

In a dramatic race, the Canadian women’s team pursuit squad won gold and set a new Pan Am record of 4:19.664. Allison Beveridge, Laura Brown, Jasmin Glaesser and Kirsti Lay did hit a Pan Am record the day before in the first heats with 4:24.368. Still, the race for gold against the U.S.—Jennifer Valente, Sarah Hammer, Kelly Catlin and Lauren Tamayo—was by no means a given from the start.

The splits at 1,000 m and 2,000 m were tenths of a second part. Only at about 2,500 m did Canada start to pull ahead. The team didn’t have a sense of how close things were are the beginning. “We went out there with our game plan. We focused just on what we needed to do. We knew if we executed perfectly, we would win,” said Brown. “We were confident, so it just came down to being in control and not getting too carried away in the first part of the race. The race is won in the last 2k, not in the first.”

The team pursuit squad is no stranger to international podiums. There was bronze in London 2012 and gold at the last Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011. For Brown, a veteran of multi-sport games, this win in Canada was something special. “I don’t what it to end! I want to go and do another one. It’s so much fun,” she said. “This is my fourth Games and this was by far a highlight.”

For Beveridge, Pan Am is, paradoxically, her “first international games at home.” She’s shared in World Cup successes with the team. The group’s record has its advantages and disadvantages. “It never gets old,” Beveridge said. “We had a fair bit of pressure today that we put on ourselves and we had our own expectations. I think today proved that we can step it up when it matters. We’ve never had a home track to stand on the top step and play the national anthem. I think this is very special.”

The U.S. finished with a time of 4:26.426. Mexico got bronze by catching the Colombian team with a mere 500 m remaining.

Brown had an assessment of the Canadian women’s team pursuit squad as it’s evolved. “Since the team pursuit has gone to four women and 4k, it’s been suiting us better than the 3k.” Brown said. “We’re more of a long distance team than a sprint team. This punctuates how good we are. We’ve embraced the longer distance and I think we are kicking ass.”

When asked how many more Games she has left, Brown said, “Rio. Then ask me after Rio.”