2008 Results

Double gold in Mexico

TRACK STAR JILLIAN DROUIN WINS TWO EVENTS AT NACAC MEET

Posted By SCOTT STEPHENSON, THE OBSERVER

Corunna's Jillian Drouin has the golden touch.

The 21-year-old St. Patrick's High School and Syracuse University graduate struck gold twice while competing for Team Canada at the U-23 NACAC championships July 18 to 20 in Toluca, Mexico.

Drouin finished first in both the women's high jump with a leap of 1.85 metres and collected 5,714 points in the heptathlon, more than 2,000 point more than silver medalist Bettie Wade of the U. S. (5,511).

Bringing double gold back to Canada helps make up for an otherwise disappointing season, Drouin told The Observer.

"I was happy because I didn't have the greatest year at the university this year so it was nice to peak with something strong," Drouin said. "All of the results in my heptathlon were really decent, too."

The heptathlon involves seven disciplines-- 100 m hurdles (13.80 sec.), high jump (1.87m, ties personal best), shot put (12.38m), 200m (25.08), long jump (6.07m, ties personal best), javelin (37.19m), and 800m (2:38.40).

For her achievements, Drouin was named NACAC female athlete of the meet.

The NACAC Championship marked the fourth time Drouin had competed as a member of Team Canada. Her previous times wearing the Maple Leaf included the 2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics, 2005 Pan American Junior Championships and 2007 World University Games.

The NACAC is the continental confederation governing body of athletics for national governing bodies and multinational federations within North America, Central America and the Caribbean. NACAC is one of six area associations of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).

The NACAC Under-23 Championships are held every two years in one of the 32 member nations of the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association.

Next up for Drouin, who graduated this past spring from Syracuse with a Bachelor of Science in exercise science, is a short rest at home before heading to England in the fall to continue her education.

"I'm going to chiropractic college over there," Drouin said, identifying the Anglo European Chiropractic College as the institution she'll be attending.

However, Drouin doesn't want to give up competing just yet.

"I hope to keep training," she said. "I'm actually in the process right now of finding a club over there and some coaches that could help me train for the first couple months of next year while I'm over there and hopefully get some competitions in Europe."

She added, "I'm not sure exactly what the future holds, but I'm kind of going to take everything as it comes and see how I can do each year."

Jillian is the daughter of Gaetan and Sheila Drouin. She has one brother and one sister.