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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 always exciting, it害羞草研究所檚 always nerve wracking, and I害羞草研究所檓 so thrilled to get the job done once again,害羞草研究所� said Gay following his third straight NAIA gold. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 super excited to finish off my last collegiate steeplechase on a high note.害羞草研究所�

Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Sean Bergman, Gay害羞草研究所檚 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.

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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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淓very year is a bit of different path,害羞草研究所� said Gay, the NAIA West Region men害羞草研究所檚 track athlete of the year. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 really fortunate to have a great team around me.

害羞草研究所淭he dynamic has really changed each year, so it hasn害羞草研究所檛 felt like same-old, same-old, there have been different challenges over the years,害羞草研究所� said Gay. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 made for such a rich and fulfilling experience. I hope I害羞草研究所檝e somehow left my mark on the program.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檛 all far off from taking a legitimate run at a childhood dream.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 something that害羞草研究所檚 kind of sunk in the last year and a half, it害羞草研究所檚 become a big goal for me,害羞草研究所� said Gay. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e taken along-term approach to try and achieve it, I害羞草研究所檝e had tremendous support and continue to from the Vancouver Thunderbirds and coaches Chris Johnson and Norm Tinkham.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been really beneficial in my development.害羞草研究所�

In terms of his education, Gay害羞草研究所檚 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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