In his last meet as a member of the UBC Thunderbirds, John Gay walked off the track with no regrets, a lot of memories and yet another piece of golden hardware.

The 21-year-old from Kelowna capped off his university career in style last weekend, capturing the 3,000-metre steeplechase title for the third consecutive year at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

In hot and muggy conditions in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the Okanagan Mission Secondary grad ran to the national title in a time of 9:o4.36.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 always exciting, it香蕉视频直播檚 always nerve wracking, and I香蕉视频直播檓 so thrilled to get the job done once again,香蕉视频直播� said Gay following his third straight NAIA gold. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 super excited to finish off my last collegiate steeplechase on a high note.香蕉视频直播�

Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Sean Bergman, Gay香蕉视频直播檚 UBC teammate, finished in ninth spot at the NAIA finals. Last year, Gay and Bergman went 1-2 in the 3,000 steeplechase at nationals.

RELATED: Kelowna products go 1-2 at NAIA nationals

Gay found the podium for the second time at the NAIAs with a second-place finish in the 5,000 metres in 14:42.18.

In reflecting on his four-year stay with the UBC program, Gay said there香蕉视频直播檚 little he would change. He credits his coaches and teammates for keeping the experience fresh and allowing him to continue to evolve as both an athlete and a person.

香蕉视频直播淓very year is a bit of different path,香蕉视频直播� said Gay, the NAIA West Region men香蕉视频直播檚 track athlete of the year. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 really fortunate to have a great team around me.

香蕉视频直播淭he dynamic has really changed each year, so it hasn香蕉视频直播檛 felt like same-old, same-old, there have been different challenges over the years,香蕉视频直播� said Gay. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 made for such a rich and fulfilling experience. I hope I香蕉视频直播檝e somehow left my mark on the program.香蕉视频直播�

While his collegiate career is at an end, Gay plans to forge full speed ahead with his running, training with the Vancouver Thunderbirds Track Club. In the big picture, Gay香蕉视频直播檚 sights are set on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

In 2015, the qualifying standard for the Olympics in steeplechase was 8:32. With his personal best sitting at 8:36, Gay isn香蕉视频直播檛 all far off from taking a legitimate run at a childhood dream.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 something that香蕉视频直播檚 kind of sunk in the last year and a half, it香蕉视频直播檚 become a big goal for me,香蕉视频直播� said Gay. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e taken along-term approach to try and achieve it, I香蕉视频直播檝e had tremendous support and continue to from the Vancouver Thunderbirds and coaches Chris Johnson and Norm Tinkham.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been really beneficial in my development.香蕉视频直播�

In terms of his education, Gay香蕉视频直播檚 time at UBC has also come with many rewards. The Kelowna runner has earned his degree in International Relations and is now in the process of pursuing his Masters.

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