Cam Levins: 5000m/10,000m
After a triumphant double victory in the 5000m and 10,000m at the NCAA track and field championships, Cam Levins is a Canadian to watch in London 2012.
Name: Cam Levins
Hometown: Black Creek, B.C.
Club: Southern Utah University; Comox Valley Cougars
Coach: Eric Houle
Age: 23
Personal Best: 13:18.47 (5000m), 27:27.96 (10,000m)
After a triumphant double victory in the 5000m and 10,000m at the NCAA track and field championships, Cam Levins is a Canadian to watch in London 2012. With a final lap unlike any other Canadian distance runner, Levins has proven that he can outkick just about anyone. He hails from Black Creek, B.C., pop. 2,000, and attended George P. Vanier High School. Levins was a member of the Comox Valley Cougars track club, however, he typically completed workouts alone. Levins pursued a scholarship by sending his credentials through a recruiting website. Southern Utah was the only University to respond. Coach Eric Houle has been rewarded for offering Levins, a self-proclaimed “mediocre” runner, a spot at Southern Utah.
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Levins had been relatively unknown in the running community up until 2011 when he won his second consecutive Canadian cross-country championship. With a slew of victories under his belt following this national win, Levins chased down the Olympic Standard this spring. He first went after the 5000m mark with a remarkable win in California in 13.18.47 and then ran an astonishing 10,000m race a couple of weeks later, winning that event in 27:27.96. Both of these times surpassed Canada’s “A” standard, nearly ensuring him a spot on the Olympic Team. His training program is unlike many 5000m and 10,000m runners as he runs tons of mileage – about 240K per week.
After a strong fourth-place finish at the NCAA cross-country championships, Levins knew he had a chance at the Olympics. Now, he has the opportunity to run both events. It will be a tough decision as the 10,000m is just four days in advance of the 5,000m heats in London. Levins plans to race a number of Diamond League events in July to prepare for the tough competition he will face in London.
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