Media Room
Press ReleasesJune 2, 2005
2005 Jerome Meet Showcases Pacific Rim Speed
It is fitting that the track meet that honours great Canadian sprinter Harry Jerome would have as one of its most intriguing events an international 100 metres that is shaping up to be an intriguing mix of Pacific Rim speed.
The 2005 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic is featuring a contingent of Chinese athletes competing against Canada in an intra-meet competition, the Pacific World Cup presented by Paystone.com. The men's 100 metres will be an exciting element in this historic Canada-China meeting.
Chinese competitors Yang Youzu and Zhou Zhiamin will both race the 100 metres at this year's Jerome Classic, which marks the first time the People's Republic of China has sent national team competitors to compete at the meet. Both Chinese runners have, since February, been living and training at Baylor University in Texas, under the eye of Clyde Hart who coached world and Olympic champion Michael Johnson.
Yang, 24, recently finished third in the 200 metres at the May Georgia Tech Invitational and is a four-time Chinese national champion over 200 metres. Zhou is a 100-metre specialist.
Canadian sprinters Anson Henry and Richard Adu-Bobie have been named to run the Jerome 100 metres for the national team. Henry, 26, has run a personal best 10.17 although he has a wind-aided 10.15 and 10.19 on his resume so far this season. Adu-Bobie is a promising 20-year-old who ran a Canadian junior record 10.28 in 2004.
All four athletes will also be integral members of their country's teams entered in the men's 4x100-metre relay. Former University of Washington standout Ja'Warren Hooker, second in the Jerome 400 metres in 2003, is also entered in the 100 metres. He was named to the US 4x400-metre relay team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
The 2005 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic is one of five events in the PacifiCanada Track and Field Series. The 22nd annual Harry Jerome meet goes June 14, 7 p.m. at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.
Media Relations/Accreditation:
Diane Clement
dclement00@hotmail.com or (604) 261-6220
General Information/Athlete information and inquiries:
Marek Jedrzejek (604) 822-6259 or marekj@interchange.ubc.ca
Doug Clement (604) 261-6220 / 837-1933 or dclement00@hotmail.com
