Media Room
Press ReleasesMay 04, 2006
Jerome Meet Provides Important Dual Meet Opportunity For B.C. and Alberta Track And Field Teams
VANCOUVER - Call it a dual meet, times two.
The 2006 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic, featuring the Pacific World Cup, will showcase not only Canadian stars of track and field competing against rivals from the People's Republic of China. The event will also celebrate the best young athletes from British Columbia and Alberta competing in what is, essentially, a dual meet within a dual meet.
As Canada and China compete for the Pacific World Cup at the June 8 meet at Swangard Stadium, athletes from both countries will be joined in their events by young competitors from B.C. and Alberta engaged in a corresponding provincial dual meet.
Entry for both provincial teams is limited to athletes aged 18-25. Lining up against international and national team competitors will provide valuable experience for these young athletes looking to make the next step in their competitive development.
"It is particularly important for this age group - putting them in amongst national and international level athletes at the same time while being involved in developmental competition," remarks Ron Bunting, B.C. Athletics Technical Manager - Track and Field. "They can test themselves with higher level competition. This provides an opportunity for those developmental athletes to see how they fare at that next level."
Bunting notes there are few opportunities for provincial track and field teams to meet and compete outside of events such as Western Canada or Canada Games. He welcomes the opportunity for both B.C. and Alberta athletes to compete against each other, while having additional incentive of rubbing shoulders with international calibre athletes.
Bunting also noted the Jerome meet format may prove an important opportunity for B.C. and Alberta team athletes to meet qualifying standards for the NACAC (North-America, Caribbean and Central America) championships in July.
"Selection is based on their performances up to June 20," he explained. "This meet could provide an opportunity for athletes in that age group to make the standard and move up to another international event."
The Jerome meet is one of four events in the PacifiCanada Track and Field Series and Alberta athletes will take full advantage of their foray over the Rockies by not only competing in the June 8 Jerome event but in other meets in the series.
"It's a great opportunity for our athletes to compete in an environment that is a good, national quality series while also providing the chance to compete in an international setting," says Peter Ogilvie, Executive Director of Athletics Alberta.
"Having that exposure, having the visibility, is critical for their development in the long term. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone here in Alberta to jump on board and get involved. It is a leap of faith in that it's the first time we've committed to come to B.C. for four meets but at the same time it allows our athletes to have four solid competitions."
In late April, Edmonton was awarded the right to play host to the 2007 and 2008 national track and field championships. Ogilvie noted Alberta athletes now have even more incentive to compete and improve performance as they prepare to play host to Canadian rivals over the next two years.
For media inquiries contact:
Diane Clement
(604) 261-6220 / dclement00@hotmail.com
For athlete information contact:
Marek Jedrzejek
(604) 822-6259 / marekj@interchange.ubc.ca
or
Doug Clement
dclement00@hotmail.com
