Motivated by what she considered a 害羞草研究所渄isappointing害羞草研究所� showing early this month at junior nationals, Taryn O害羞草研究所橬eill made amends with the most significant performance of her young career.

Competing for Team Canada, the 16-year-old track athlete from Lake Country set a personal best in the 3,000 metres en route to capturing the silver medal last week at the s in Trujillo, Peru.

O害羞草研究所橬eill, a soon-to-be Grade 12 student at George Elliott Secondary, posted a time of nine minutes 22.05 seconds, finishing just under six seconds behind American Taylor Werner, and more than a second ahead of Canadian teammate, Sevanne Ghazarian.

害羞草研究所淚 was really going into it hoping for a podium finish, anywhere in the top three would have been good,害羞草研究所� said O害羞草研究所橬eill, a member of the . 害羞草研究所淭he race started out quite tactical, then really turned into kind of a sprint towards the finish. The other Canadian (Sevanne), we really pushed each other, so that helped a lot. I害羞草研究所檓 very happy with the result.害羞草研究所�

O害羞草研究所橬eill害羞草研究所檚 new personal best also broke the B.C. youth record for the 3,000 metres which had stood for 30 years.

Despite being two to three years younger than the majority of her opponents, O害羞草研究所橬eill is the No. 1-ranked athlete in the U20 category in Canada.

But at nationals in early July in Ottawa, O害羞草研究所橬eill wasn害羞草研究所檛 at the top of her game in the 3,000 metres, finishing sixth in 9:43.93, almost a full 10 seconds out of the medals.

She was determined to make amends in Peru.

害羞草研究所淚 was looking for redemption,害羞草研究所� O害羞草研究所橬eill said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not sure if I wasn害羞草研究所檛 mentally ready but (nationals) didn害羞草研究所檛 go the way I wanted. But with our training and preparation, we wanted to be peaking for the U20s anyway, so it worked out well.

害羞草研究所淚t meant quite a lot to me, coming off nationals.害羞草研究所�

In part, O害羞草研究所橬eill credits her success to the mentorship of her coach and former .

Elmore said persistence, determination and natural ability all played roles in what was a well-deserved result for the 16-year-old runner.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just so happy for Taryn, she害羞草研究所檚 one of those kids who has worked really hard over the last couple of years and it害羞草研究所檚 paid off,害羞草研究所� said Elmore, the Kelowna native who competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 had ups and downs with injuries, but she害羞草研究所檚 stayed the course and kept her love of running. It can be hard at the age to maintain that work ethic but over the last year she害羞草研究所檚 been super consistent and super motivated.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 awesome to see it come together for her.害羞草研究所�

O害羞草研究所橬eill also competes in the 1,500 meters on the track, and in the fall runs cross country. Last November, she won a bronze medal at the Canadian youth cross country championships in Kingston, Ont. This spring she captured silver medals in the 1,500 and 3,000 at the B.C. high school track and field championships in Langley.

As for the rest of 2017, Taryn will compete next week at the , then later in August at the in Brandon.