Dawson City’s Jack Amos ran two events at the Brandon, Man. meet, which was held Aug. 11-13.

He was seventh in the first section of the 1,500-metre youth men timed final, finishing in four minutes 17.57 seconds, almost 10 seconds off his personal best of 4:08.76, which he set at the end of July at the Canada Summer Games.

After 150 metres, Amos said his body didn’t feel strong.

“My legs just dropped. My lungs were on fire,” he said. “I knew I was fit enough to go faster.” But his body wouldn’t cooperate.

Amos qualified for the competition by meeting time standards in both the 1,500 and the 3,000.

Coach Don White, who accompanied Amos to the competition at the Brandon Community Sportsplex, said there were a number of factors that contributed to his performance, including weather and the recent conclusion of Canada Summer Games.

In Amos’ other event, the 3,000, he was sixth in 9:04.97.

The lead pack was going at a pace that was too fast for Amos, so he went his own way.

“I didn’t stand a chance going that pace,” he said. “So I took it a bit conservative.”

In the final 400 metres, he turned on the gas, passing a number of the field, but ultimately, after a slow first lap, he couldn’t bridge the gap.

“At the end of it, he wasn’t able to make it up,” said White.

Amos had a number of Saskatchewan athletes in his sights, but finished about 0.3 seconds behind Ron Maclean, who was fifth.

“He’s got an amazing finishing kick,” said White of Amos.

With the conclusion of the meet, track season has wrapped up and White has turned his sights on the cross-country season for the fall.

The summer saw a number of improvements to the facilities used by the track and field team at F.H. Collins Secondary School.

A long jump pit was dug and built by White and was utilized for training ahead of the Canada Summer Games.

A shot put circle has been mapped out, but the cement still needs to be poured. White is hoping to have it completed by spring 2018.

Amos is switching gears as well. This fall he is moving to Victoria to attend high school and train with coach Bruce Deacon and the Prairie Inn Harriers youth team.

Amos said he is looking forward to the B.C. Cross Country Championships.

“I’m looking forward to really pushing on the hills,” he said.