Local Athletes to compete at Pan American Games

Lethbridge, Alberta: Fourteen athletes with a Lethbridge connection, and one local volunteer will represent Canada at the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in Toronto, Ontario. The Pan American Games are the third largest international multi-sport games in the world, and will be the largest in scope that Canada has ever held. In 2015, over 7000 athletes will compete in 36 Pan Am sports and 15 Parapan Am sports.

Many of these athletes call Lethbridge home, and others have come to our city to train at our great facilities and under the direction of some talented coaches.
Current University of Lethbridge Pronghorn, Aaron Hernandez will compete in the Triple Jump event. Lethbridge native and Pronghorn Alumni, Ashley Steacy, has been named to Canada's Rugby Sevens team, along with Kayla Moleschi, also a University of Lethbridge alumni. Nineteen year old Coby Iwaasa recently became the first male racquetball player in Canada to win both the Open and under-18 national titles in singles and doubles in the same year. Coby will compete in the racquetball event. Originally from Vancouver, Liz Gleadle lives in Lethbridge and trains with coach Larry Steinke. Liz will be competing in the Javelin event. Heather Steacy will compete in the Women's Hammer Throw event, while brother Jim Steacy will compete in the Men's Hammer Throw event. Kip Kangogo moved to Canada almost 14 years ago to attend the Lethbridge College, and will be competing in the Marathon event. Twenty-two year old Rachel Nicol will swim the 100m Breaststroke at the Pam Am Games, and Zack McAllister will be competing in the swimming event at the Parapan American Games in August. Both Rachel and Zack train with Lethbridge Amateur Swim Club coach, Peter Schori. Jared Mortenson and Shane Dawson are alumni players of the Prairie Baseball academy, and have both been named to Canada's Baseball team. Melissa Fraser and Alanna Kovacks, both Ontario natives, lived in Lethbridge to train with Larry Steinke, and will be competing in the Javelin and Discus events respectively. Lethbridge Chiropractor Dr. Grayson Michel will also be traveling to Toronto to volunteer at the Games.

Susan Eymann, Executive Director of the Lethbridge Sport Council said, "Our community should be proud of not only the accomplishments of these athletes, but also proud of our city, for being able to boast such great facilities for these athletes to train at, and superior coaches, to mentor them."

Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman said, “On behalf of City Council and our entire community, I want to congratulate these exceptional athletes, who will represent Canada at the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. Each of them has strong ties to Lethbridge, and I know our city will be cheering them on.”

For further information please contact:
Tanya Whipple
Program and Communication Coordinator, Lethbridge Sport Council
[email protected]
403-320-9371