Renee Foessel earns best throw in two seasons for discus title

OTTAWA – Renee Foessel wants to make sure she never finishes fourth again at a Paralympic Games. 

The 23-year-old from Orangeville, Ont. took a big step in that direction as she won the women’s discus in Para athletics competition at the 2018 Canadian Track and Field Championships.

‘’Finishing fourth in Rio was not fun,’’ said Foessel, who recently graduated in social sciences and criminal justice at Humber College. ‘’I’m working on some new techniques but it was nice today to use my old technique today and get the win.’’

Foessel’s best throw was in the fourth round at 31.03 metres, her best distance in two years. She had fouled her previous two.

‘’That one came out of nowhere,’’ said the 2015 Parapan Am Games champ. ‘’It was important for me to come out here and at least do a season’s best.’’

Other gold medallists in the morning throwing events included Paralympic Games silver medallist Alister McQueen of Calgary in the men’s javelin.

Para athletics competition continues all day at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility in Ottawa.