The Yukon picked up its second metal this morning at the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games in Fort McMurray, Alta.

Brody Smith of Whitehorse posted a personal best in the 5,000-metre race walking event to earn silver.

“I did it a lot faster than I did when I was training so I am happy with that,” Smith said in an interview this morning.

He finished in just over 36 minutes, about 10 minutes behind the winner, who is thought to be among the best race walkers in the country

It’s Smith’s first year race walking, though he has been training in athletics under the tutelage of Don White for the past four years.

“He asked me if I wanted to do and I said ‘yeah.’”

Smith said in yesterday’s 800-metre event he went out strong and stayed with the field in the first lap but died in the second.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of race walking is perfecting the technique and ensuring you maintain it because the judges keep a close eye on it, said the 18-year-old.

Smith said the knee must be locked straight and behind the heels as the foot touches down.

Smith will also be running in the four-by-400-metre relay event tomorrow.

Yukon’s first medal came Sunday in judo, with 14-year-old Hannah King of Whitehorse picking up a bronze in the individual event. The team event was scheduled for later today.

The opening ceremony for the Summer Games was held Friday evening with Pelly Vincent-Braun of Whitehorse carrying the flag. Vincent-Braun is a medal hopeful in the canoe-kayak event.

The Yukon did not win any medals at the 2011 Games in Kamloops, B.C.

The Yukon contingent is made up of 165 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff.

There were 85 athletes and coaches in the first wave of Yukon representatives. Tuesday is the turnaround day with the first wave flying out and the second wave of 77 Yukoners flying into Fort McMurray.