A fifth place finish in the 5,000 metres was not the result Cam Levins was looking for when he headed to Toronto for the 2015 Pan American Games.
On Saturday, the two-time Olympian from Black Creek got off to a good start and was second for most of the final three laps before falling back into the middle of the pack. “I didn’t go very well,” Levins told a reporter. I have to go back to the drawing board. I didn’t feel that sharp.”
Defending champion Juan Luis Barrios of Mexico won the event in 13:46.47 while Levins clocked in at 13:48.03. The Games wrapped up Sunday.
Levins won’t have much time to go back to the drawing board before returning to the track. He is on the Canadian track and field team that is off to the 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Beijing, China from Aug. 22-30.
“The World Championships are the last major measuring stick as we prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games,” said Peter Eriksson, Head Coach and Chief Technical Officer.
“Our team objectives are clear; improve on our country ranking and the number of medals, top eight, top 12 and top 16 finishes. Individually we are looking for athletes to place higher than their ranking entering the event.” As of July 19, Levins was ranked fourth in 10,000 metres.
His Facebook page notes Levins will be running both the 5,000 and 10,000 at the Worlds, with the 10,000 metres on opening day Aug. 22 and the 5,000 metre heats on Aug. 26, with the final Aug. 29.
Levins is the current Canadian 10,000 record holder and won a bronze medallist (in the 10,000) from the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
