COBDEN — To open last night’s Township of Whitewater Region council meeting, Mayor Hal Johnson congratulated Ottawa Valley Olympian Melissa Bishop for winning gold in the women’s 800 metres earlier in the evening at the Pan Am Games.
“Thank God someone local can do that,” he said.
Melissa completed the 800 metres in under two minutes, with a time of 1:59.62
Melissa, 26, ran a sound tactical race, sticking with the top three runners before taking over in the last 100m, passing American Alysia Montano. Brazil’s Flavia De Lima took home the bronze.
“I knew the crowd was going to be loud no matter what, so I was just trying to put myself in a good position to be able to run in and let the crowd do its work, and let the training come through,” Melissa said. “I’m really happy it worked out. It’s so nice to win a gold medal at home.”
Jessica Smith, also of Canada, placed fifth, with a time of 2:03:02.
Melissa is the daughter of Doug and Alison Bishop and the granddaughter of Cobden resident Tory Hawkins, late Orly Hawkins. Her parents, along with other family and friends, were at the Pan Am Games cheering her on.
— with files from Namish Modi, CBC Sports
