Camryn Rogers breaks own Canadian hammer throw record at USATF L.A. Grand Prix
23-year-old's 78.62-metre winning effort ranks 5th on world all-time list
The unstoppable Camryn Rogers rose to the top again on Friday — and she did it in style.
The Richmond, B.C., native broke her own Canadian hammer throw record en route to winning gold in the women's event at the USA Track & Field Los Angeles Grand Prix, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting.
Her fifth throw of 78.62 metres not only led the 23-year-old to the top of the podium, but also outdid her previous Canadian record of 77.84, set in April at the Mount San Antonio College relays in Walnut, Calif.
Rogers also moved to fifth place on the world all-time list.
"I was very surprised, but also very happy," said Rogers in a news release. "We've put in a lot of work going into this competition and I feel like we're off to a really good start for the season."
Rogers edged reining world champion Brooke Andersen of the United States, who threw 76.06. Fellow American DeAnna Price secured the bronze medal at 75.89.
Two other Canadians also found their way to the podium at UCLA's Drake Stadium.
Alysha Newman, of London, Ont., earned silver in the women's pole vault event, posting a season-best 4.61 on her third and final try.
Sandi Morris of the U.S. edged Newman for gold, clearing the 4.61 on her first attempt, with both athletes unsuccessful at 4.71.
Nanaimo, B.C. native Ethan Katzberg's second throw of 75.28 was good enough for a bronze in men's hammer throw.
Wojciech Nowicki of Poland posted a 77.18 throw in his final attempt to edge Rudy Winkler of the U.S. by one centimetre.
In other Canadian results, John Gay missed out on a podium, finishing fourth in the 3,000 steeplechase with a time of eight minutes 22.51 seconds, and Alycia Butterworth, of Parksville, B.C., was seventh in the women's event.
WATCH l Full event replay: Los Angeles Grand Prix:
Toronto sprinter Aaron Brown also came close to winning a medal, finishing fourth in the men's 200.
Brown had the same time as bronze medallist Elijah Morrow of the U.S., stopping the clock at 20.22. American Terrance Laird (20.06) took gold, with Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago coming right behind (20.08).
Brendon Rodney of Etobicoke, Ont., was sixth in 20.76.
WATCH l Brown, Rodney 4th and 6th in men's 200m:
Jamaica's Ackeem Blake ran a personal-best time of 9.89 seconds to edge the American duo of Cravont Charleston and Christian Coleman for gold.
The silver and bronze medallists had the same time of 9.91. No other athletes in the event stopped the clock before the 10 second mark.
WATCH l Blake posts personal best to strike gold in men's 100m:
Morolake Akinosun clocked 10.97 to earn gold in the women's 100.
Fellow American Melissa Jefferson came second (11.07), edging Jamaica's Alana Reid by 1-100th of a second.
WATCH l Akinosun races to women's 100m victory:
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