Track and field athlete Jessica Pruden won the territory’s third medal with a silver performance in the long jump Thursday night at the Special Olympic’s 2018 Canada Summer Games.

As the Yukon’s 20 athletes continue to compete, the heat wave gripping Antigonish, N.S., also continues.

“Oh my God, we woke up this morning and I swear it was 50 degrees out there,” CEO Serge Michaud of Special Olympic Yukon said in a telephone interview today. “I’m exaggerating, but not by much.”

Temperature records for Antigonish that go back to the 1950s are falling this week.

Michaud said Team Yukon remains undeterred by the heat.

“They are giving it their all,” he said. “They are just leaving it all out there on the field. We are so proud.”

Depending on how round robin play finishes up today, bocce players and the soccer teams could advance to the medal rounds Saturday.

One of the athletes watching bocce player Carrie Rudolph commented “Ohhhh, Carrie, so close.”

Michaud said one of Rudolph’s deciding shots was so close, officials had to pull out the tape measure and the difference was just millimetres.

Aimee Lien, the territory’s only rhythmic gymnast, begins performing today, on what is the third day of competition.

Track and field also continues today and the Yukon swimmers are back in the pool.

Ernest Chua won the Yukon’s first medal Wednesday when he secured gold in the 50-metre freestyle event.

Distance runner Darby McIntyre won the second with a bronze yesterday in the 5,000-metre.

Premier Sandy Silver is expected to be in the stands this evening cheering for the soccer team that can advance to the gold medal game with a win.

John Streicker, minister of Community Service responsible for sport and recreation, has been in Antigonish all week. Premier Sandy Silver, who was born in Antigonish an is in Nova Scotia vacationing, is scheduled to be at this evening’s soccer match.

The match is to be followed by a lobster dinner hosted by Streicker for the athletes, eight coaches, three mission staff and the 65 fans who travelled from the territory to cheer on Team Yukon.