Emma Balazs is a national bronze-medalist.
On Friday in Charlottetown, host city for the Legion Canadian Youth Track and Field Championships, the 17-year-old Prince George resident won bronze in the 1,500-metre run. Balazs set a new personal-best time of four minutes 38.30 seconds. Fellow B.C. runner Kala Stone grabbed gold in a time of 4:35.77 and Ontario's Rebecca Wendt (4:37.14) crossed the line in silver-medal position.
Originally, Balazs wasn't expecting to compete in the 1,500m run. Her specialty is the 2,000m steeplechase but she was told a couple weeks before nationals that she would also represent B.C. in the 1,500.
"I ran like a four-second PB so it was really good," she said. "I was hoping for maybe a top-six finish."
Balazs should contend for a medal in the steeplechase as well. That race is scheduled for Sunday.
