Canada has a Pan Am Games record in sight

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Last night, Canada captured its first two gold medals in track and field at the Pan American Games in Chile. Shot putter Sarah Mitton, a silver medallist at this year's world championships, dominated her event, and distance runner Charles Philibert-Thiboutot dove across the finish line to clip fellow Canadian Robert Heppenstall in the men's 1,500 metres.

Another three Canadian victories came early this morning on the water. Kayaker Michelle Russell won the women's singles 500m event, while Ian Gaudet and Simon McTavish (kayak) and Alix Plomteux and Craig Spence (canoe) captured doubles golds.

More golden opportunities await before these Games come to a close on Sunday evening.

The best one might be world champion Ethan Katzberg in the men's hammer throw final on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET. The 21-year-old from Nanaimo, B.C., shocked everyone this summer by upsetting the reigning Olympic and world champions (both from Poland) to win the title in his worlds debut. Katzberg is favoured to do the same in his first appearance at the Pan Ams.

Jean-Simon Desgagnés is also a good bet for gold in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. ET. His eighth-place finish at the world championships topped all athletes from the Pan Am region, and his time of 8:15.58 easily beats the season best by anyone else in Saturday's 13-man field.

Other Canadian standouts vying for individual gold over the final few days of the Games include 2021 Olympic canoe bronze medallist Katie Vincent and breakdancer Philip Kim, who can earn a spot in his sport's Olympic debut next year in