Chuck Kuepfer, Staff Reporter

Two local athletes participated at the 2012 Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships in Winnipeg this past weekend.

Javelin thrower Jasmine Wilson and sprinter Emeka Agada, who excelled on Elmira District Secondary School’s track and field team this past school year, were among young athletes from across the country at the Athletics Canada event.

Agada struck gold as part of the Supreme Athletics 4-x-100 relay team, which set a new Canadian junior record in the process in a time of 42.13 seconds.

Agada also advanced to the 100-metre final, but was disqualified due to a lane violation.

“Overall it was a good meet,” said Agada, who was dealing with an injury he sustained in the days leading up to the meet.

Friend and fellow competitor Wilson, who trains with the Waterloo Athletics Track Club, also brought home a medal.

Wilson set a new personal best with a throw of 45.62 metres to take bronze in the javelin event.

“I was definitely happy with how I did,” she said. “I did better than expected.”

Wilson was among six competitors, some of whom had World Juniors experience, in the event.

However, Wilson found the competition more relaxed than the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association finals, which she participated in this past June.

“It was fun. It was really relaxed. There was actually not too much pressure,” she said. “I wasn’t nervous, although I was going up against a couple of people older than me.”

Wilson had placed fourth in the javelin competition with a throw of 37.79 metres at OFSAA.

She credits her coaches at the Waterloo Athletics Club with helping to achieve her goal of 45 metres.

“They obviously helped me PB by seven metres,” she said.

The event was won by Quebec’s Pascale Dumont, who edged out Niki Oudenaarden for gold with throw of 47.76 metres,

Along with the support of her club, Wilson also has the support of family.

“We’re definitely proud of her,” said her mom, Kim.

Wilson has aspirations of competing at a higher level down the road.

“Obviously I hope the Olympics one day, and the Junior Pan Ams,” said Wilson, who loves the sport. “It’s just something you can always get better at.”

She plans to attend an American college on a track scholarship after she finishes high school next year.

The Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships were held at the University of Manitoba.