Competing at the Junior Pan American Games in Edmonton, Canada, was a goal ISU track athlete Evelyne Guay talked about as far back as September 2014.

At that time, the Ontario, Canada, native was just beginning to get situated as a newcomer at Iowa State.

In an interview last fall, she laid out a list of goals she wanted to accomplish as a Cyclone: record new personal bests, make a Big 12 final, qualify for NCAAs in indoor and outdoor track and compete at the Junior Pan American Games.

ISU women’s distance coach Andrea Grove-McDonough outlined her vision for Guay along with another freshman ISU runner from Canada, Olivia Robertson, early in the 2014 cross-country season.

“They’re definitely two girls we are expecting to be anchors down the road,” Grove-McDonough said. “We need Guay to be a big part of that middle distance group when we hit indoor track and to score some points for us this year.”

Guay lived up to the expectations of her coach. She scored three points for the Cyclones in the finals of the 1,000-meter run at the Big 12 Indoor Championship and finished just one spot shy of qualifying for the finals of the 800-meter run at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship.

Guay set personal records in the 800-meter run, 1,000-meter run and 1,500-meter run during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. 

Guay crossed another goal off her list July 5, when she earned a qualifying bid to the Junior Pan American Games by placing first in the finals of the junior 800-meter run at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.

“[I hope to] just run my best and hopefully get a personal best out of that,” Guay said. “Wherever that falls within the places, then I’ll be happy, as long as it’s my best.”

Because Guay will compete in the Pan American Games on Friday-Sunday, her training for the 2015 cross-country season will be delayed.

“Because of this track season it kind of put the cross-country season on the line a little bit,” Guay said. “But it wasn’t a huge focus for us this year, so I’m not too worried.”

Before the soon-to-be sophomore begins the next chapter of her ISU career, her list of goals will need updated.