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May 10, 2007

History, Camaraderie And Rivalry Celebrated As People's Republic Of China Confirms Participation In 24th Annual Jerome Track Classic

VANCOUVER - History: Canadian sport history was made in 2005 when the People's Republic of China sent a small national track and field team to compete for the inaugural Pacific World Cup at the 22nd annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic. The event marked the first time China had fielded a national track and field team in Canada.

Camaraderie: In 2006 China returned to the Jerome meet, this time with a large contingent of 38 athletes and 12 officials for the second Pacific World Cup, an event that celebrated competition and camaraderie between upcoming Olympic host nations China (2008) and Canada (2010).

Rivalry: The Achilles Track and Field Society, organizers of the annual Jerome Classic, confirmed today the People's Republic of China's enthusiasm to continue the friendly athletic rivalry between the two nations by sending a team of 26 athletes (19 men, seven women) and 11 officials to the 2007 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic, slated for June 8 at Burnaby's Swangard Stadium.

"It is perhaps not quite a tradition yet but what began in 2005 as a small dual meet within a larger meet has evolved into an important competition for both Chinese and Canadian athletes as they prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing," notes Dr, Doug Clement, president of the Achilles Track and Field Society. "We welcome the People's Republic of China again this year and look forward to the two teams renewing this rivalry for the Pacific World Cup."

This year's meet again features a dual competition between Canada and China - with scoring in eight men's events and five women's events to determine the Pacific World Cup winner. The meet also includes invitational events open to other international athletes with the total $50,000US meet prize list open to all entries. In the past athletes representing some 20 countries have taken part in the annual meet.

Two familiar faces are among the 26 athletes confirmed by the Chinese Athletic Association for the 24th annual Jerome meet at Swangard Stadium. Chinese javelin record holder Li Rongxiang, bronze medallist at the 2006 Asian Games and winner of the javelin at last year's Jerome meet, will return to Swangard this year. On the women's side China is led by pole vaulter Zhao Yinging, third in the inaugural Pacific World Cup in 2005 and bronze medallist at the 2004 world junior track and field championships.

Many members of the 2007 Chinese contingent are from Fujian, a province in China with a population comparable to Canada with more than 31 million residents. Beijing plays host to the Olympic Summer Games in August, 2008.

Canada has yet to confirm its national team for the June 8 Pacific World Cup.

This year's meet will also feature the final round of a new youth athletics initiative, Seeking Harry, Seeking Valerie - The ActNow BC Jerome Talent Search, to be introduced to Lower Mainland elementary schools this spring. The program, managed for Achilles by former Albanian track and field head coach Besnik Mece, will see students in Grades 4 to 7 take part in qualifying school relays to earn a spot in the program finals that are on the June 8 Jerome meet schedule. Eight squads of four youngsters will qualify to compete in four, 4x100-metre finals.

The program honours the athletic and inspirational spirit of the late Harry Jerome and his sister, Valerie, who in 1959 dominated the sprint events at the Canadian track and field championships and went on to compete for Canada in Olympic, Pan-American and Commonwealth Games competitions.

"For 24 years one of the main objectives of the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic has been to provide competitive opportunities for young Canadian athletes, so that they might gain experience against international rivals with the benefit of competing here in Canada," remarks Dr. Doug Clement. "Seeking Harry, Seeking Valerie - The ActNow BC Jerome Talent Search expands the purpose even further by introducing and promoting track and field to youngsters while also identifying our stars of the future, giving them a competitive forum to help them learn and to shine."

The 2007 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic is part of the PacifiCanada Track and Field Series (http://www.pacificanada.ca). The series serves to provide international and Olympic level competition for track and field athletes. The 2007 series, from June 3-10, takes place in four B.C. communities:

Review Kajaks International Track Classic
Sunday, June 3, 2007, Richmond

Victoria High Performance
Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Victoria International Track Classic
Wednesday, June 6, 2007, Victoria

Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International
Featuring the Pacific World Cup: China-Fujian vs Canada
Friday, June 8, 2007, Burnaby

Abbotsford International Track Classic
Sunday, June 10, 2007, Abbotsford

For meet media inquiries contact:
Diane Clement
dclement00@hotmail.com or (604) 261-6220

For athlete information contact:
Marek Jedrezejek
marekj@interchange.ubc.ca or (604) 822-6259

or

Doug Clement
dclement00@hotmail.com

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