Liz Gleadle has another two metres in her.
She could reach 65 or 66 metres this summer. The setting would certainly be right.
“I’m waiting for it,” she said, a smile spreading across the face of the six-foot-one athlete. “I don’t know if it’s going to come in Oslo, I still expect great throws in Oslo, but I’m definitely gearing up for some really great throws at Pan Ams. Don’t be surprised when it happens.”
Gleadle has the fifth best throw in the world so far this year and she will continue to build on her season this week at an international Diamond League meet in Norway. She holds the Canadian women’s record of 64.83 metres, which she set last month in Japan, and her best attempt at the Harry Jerome meet Monday night at Swangard Stadium wasn’t far off that mark. She threw over 60 metres and then hit 64.34 metres to win gold at the meet before fouling on her fourth attempt and passing on her fifth throw.
“It’s good to have a baseline of throws in the 60s instead of having just my best throw being in the 60s,” she said. “It’s a massive improvement.”
A structural injury affecting her ribs and pelvis thwarted the progress of the Kitsilano and UBC graduate, but she said — despite a few “niggling” alignment issues — she’s healthy.
The consistency is hard-earned, and Gleadle is only warming up with expectations to impress the home crowd at the Toronto PanAm Games next month. At Swangard, she had about 20 friends and family members in the stands, and worked their attention to her advantage.
In Toronto, watch for her to pump up the crowd before setting into her throw — a slowly accelerating applause jolts the nervous system, she said. And while she doesn’t always do it, when it’s right, she’ll build off the energy.
“You get the momentum of the crowd behind you,” she said. “It felt right today, a good home crowd.”
Twitter: @MHStewart
