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South Hazelton runner selected to represent Canada at World Cross Country Championships

The announcement came in the midst of a winning streak for Regan Yee
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Regan Yee edges out Abby Nichols at the line as both women get big personal bests of 8:48.53 and 8:48.58. Yee starts the year with two races, two wins, and two personal bests. (Justin Britton/Citius Magazine).

South Hazelton runner Regan Yee has been selected to represent Canada at the World Cross Country Championships on Feb. 18 in Bathurst, Australia.

The announcement came after she opened her 2023 indoor track season in incredible form, running a two-second personal best and world-leading time of 4:30.46 in the women’s mile. It was a tight race, in which she beat American Molly Sughroue by a quarter of a second.

“I feel great,” she said. “This the strongest indoor season I’ve ever had, so that bodes well going into our outdoor season.”

Her time has since been beaten and she sits at the sixth-best time of the year. An impressive feat for an unusual distance for Yee, who is most familiar with the 3000-metre race.

The hot streak continued the following weekend, when Yee won the 3000-meter race at the 2023 John Thomas Terrier Classic, once again edging out an American, Abby Nichols but this time by just 5/100th of a second.

Yee represented Team Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the steeplechase and currently trains with Flagstaff-based Team Under Armour’s Dark Sky Mission Project.

The 27-year-old will have some stiff competition in Australia, where she will be part of the 28-athlete team representing Canada.

“That was the goal of these last few races. I wanted to prove my fitness and show that I’m ready to compete for Canada. I got the job done.”

She’s clearly not done her winning ways, as she’s full of confidence and aiming for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this August.

“It’s still a ways away, I have a lot of time to stay healthy and keep training and get stronger.”

READ MORE: Junior star Connor Bedard filling hockey arenas in Western Canada

@samkonnert
sam.konnert@blackpress.ca

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