The journey to the Pan Am Games for some of Canada's fastest athletes has been filled with hardships, self-doubt and, in one case, tragedy. In the first of a series, the Star’s Kerry Gillespie and Steve Russell spent nine months documenting the quest to win a medal at almost any cost.

This is the story of the sprinters and hurdlers based at Athletics Canada’s eastern hub in Toronto. 

Part I - The race to the Pan Am Games and the pain it takes to make it

Part II - Canadian sprinter Sam Effah driven to overcome adversity.

Part III -Learning from loss, sprinter Khamica Bingham wants to be ‘feared on the world stage’

Part IV - Olympian Gavin Smellie racing against time at 29

Part V - Canadian sprinters want to 'run our hearts out' for fallen teammate