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Press Releases

May 23, 2007

Rising Sprint Star Bringing His Spikes To Swangard

There is no doubt Brian Barnett is going somewhere - fast.

Just what the future holds for the promising Edmonton-based sprinter is anyone's guess but if recent accomplishments are any indication the 20-year-old speedster looks to have a very bright career ahead of him. The immediate future has the reigning Canadian junior and senior 200-metre champion and world junior silver medallist coming to Burnaby's Swangard Stadium to compete at the 24th annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic.

Barnett will be among the Canadian athletes competing against rivals from the People's Republic of China in a dual meet within the meet for the Pacific World Cup. Look for Barnett to race the 200 metres and take the baton as part of Canada's 4x400-metre relay team as the meet serves as an official International Association of Athletics Federations relay qualifier for the world track and field championships in Japan.

Barnett served notice in 2005 he might be a future force to be considered as he won the 100, 200 and 400-metre events at the Alberta high school championships and went on to finish second in the 400 metres at the national junior championships. In 2006 he finished fourth in the 100 metres on a cold, wet night at the 23rd annual Jerome meet.

Barnett later warmed up, however, sizzling through the national junior championships with wins in the 200 and 400 metres. He went on to record a personal best 20.70 seconds in winning the Canadian senior 200-metre title. He capped his 2006 season by earning a silver medal in the 200 metres (21.00) at the world junior championships in Beijing.

Toronto's Shannon King is expected to join Barnett on the Jerome meet start line for Canada in the 200 metres. Competing for China will be 23-year-old Fu Yang, who has a best of 21.05, and 20-year-old Jie Zhou, a 400-metre runner with a one-lap best of 47.56.

Through the years the annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic has showcased some of the world's top sprinters, including Olympic gold medallists Donovan Bailey and Carl Lewis. It is only fitting that the meet named in honour of Canadian sprinting great Harry Jerome should also serve to introduce and celebrate young Canadian sprinters like Brian Barnett.

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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