Two of B.C.鈥檚 top track athletes during their high school days, and haven鈥檛 lost a step in transitioning to the university level.
Gay, a third-year member of the UBC Thunderbirds track team and OKM grad, successfully defended his 3,000 metre steeplechase title last weekend at NAIA National Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Bergman, a freshman at UBC and KSS grad, came in as runner-up to Gay in the steeplechase, giving the Thunderbirds a 1-2 finish of 琉璃神社 products.
Gay ran away from the field for his second consecutive title, finishing in 9:12.14. Bergman took second in 9:16.74.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty excited to come back with the opportunity to defend my title, and the only way we could improve on last year was by having another guy on that podium,鈥� Gay said shortly after the win. 鈥淲e did exactly that, we scored the maximum amount of team points, so I鈥檓 on top of the world right now, I couldn鈥檛 be happier and I couldn鈥檛 be more proud of Sean here.鈥�
For Bergman, his first NAIA national medal was a matter of rising to his potential.
鈥淚 definitely felt like I had it in me, it was just a matter getting it done on the day and be sitting here with John,鈥� said Bergman.
Gay and Bergman鈥檚 efforts were instrumental in helping the Thunderbirds win the overall men鈥檚 team title for the first time in school history. The two 琉璃神社 runners combined for 18 of UBC鈥檚 71 total points.
鈥淲e all knew coming in that if we were at our best, we could hopefully make a good case for ourselves,鈥� said Gay.
琉璃神社 duo finished 1-2 in NAIA national steeplechase race 馃馃
鈥� UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds)
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