Crystal Emmanuel adds SPEED to Team Canada's quest to contest Team China for Pacific World Cup at Jerome Classic on June 26 and 27 at Swangard Stadium

The communications lines were hot with last minute surprises for the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic invitation's chair, Marek Jedrzejek.  The legendary, now retired, UBC track coach, has assembled a world class lineup for this 35th  edition of the longest  standing track meet in Canada.  

Damian Warner will run the 110m hurdles at the Jerome classic     photo :Athletics Canada

Jedrzejek said “We now have a host of top 10 and top 20 athletes on the world list, coming to the Jerome Classic lead by the world leader in the decathlon, Damian Warner of London, ON,  the number 2 ranked long jumper, Christabel Nettey of Surry, BC, and number 6 ranked, Sage Watson of Medicine Hat, AB in the 400m hurdles and number 8 ranked Mike Mason of Nanoose Bay, BC in the high jump."

Alyx Treasure, Olympian searching for Debbie Brill's record   photo: Athletics Canada

Olympians, Alyx Treasure of Prince George, BC and Crystal Emmanual of Toronto, ON just confirmed their entry for next Tuesday and Wednesday evening at Swangard Stadium in Central Park, Burnaby.  Alyx will be aiming for Debbie Brill's meet record in the high jump. Crystal will add pure speed to the China Canada Dual meet in the 100m and the 4x100m relay. Her addition to Team Canada will give a challenge to Team China's women sprinters lead by YUAN Qiqi. 

Crystal Emmanuel from Toronto, ON      Photo:  Athletics Canada

Crystal who races regularly on the Diamond League circuit is a late addition to Team Canada by coach, Glenroy Gilbert. This will strengthen his team in the women’s 100m and 4x100m relay against Team China.  She is the Canadian record holder in the 200m.

Triple Olympic Medalist, Andre De Grasse will run 1on both nights      Photo: Athletics Canada

She will join the dynamic duo of Andre De Grasse and Aaron Kinglsey Brown who are the only 2 Canadians who have broken 10 seconds in the 100m and 20 seconds in the 200m. They will clash with Team China in the 100m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays for men and women for  a purse of $40,000 and the Pacific World Cup.  Andre and Aaron will run the 100m on the first evening and the 4x100m on the concluding night.

Aaron Kingsley Brown   photo: Athletics Canada

Team China Team Canada Team Sprint Challenge 

Tuesday evening

8:28pm 4x400m women-4 persons selected to run each leg on relay

Team China: HUANG Guifen, LIANG Nuo, HE Ke, PAN Gaoqin, CHENG Chong

Team Canada: Sage Watson, Aiyanna Stiverne, Alicia Brown, Madeline Price, Micha Powell, Travia Jones

8:36pm 4x400m men-4 persons selected to run each leg on relay

Team China: GUO Zhongze, MAO Guorong, WU Yu'ang, FENG Zhiqiang, PAN Haitao

Team Canada: Philip Osei, Khamal Stewart-Baynes, Austin Cole, Tremaine Harris, Daniel Harper

8:44pm 100m women-4 entries per team in the individual events

Team China: YUAN Qiqi, GE Manqi, LIANG Xiaojing, ZHOU Yanbing

Team Canada: Khamica Bingham, Leya Buchanan, Leah Walkeden, Farah Jacques, Whitney Rowe, Crystal Emmanuel

8:52pm 100m men- 4 entries per team in the individual events

Team China: XU Haiyang, MI Hong, XU Zhouzheng, LIANG Jinsheng, BIE Ge, MAO Guorong

Team Canada: Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Bismark Boateng, Bolade Ajomale, Gavin Smellie, Sam Effah

Wednesday evening

8:34pm 400m women- 4 entries per team in the individual events

Team China: HUANG Guifen, LIANG Nuo, HE Ke, PAN Gaoqin, CHENG Chong

Team Canada: Sage Watson, Aiyanna Stiverne, Alicia Brown, Madeline Price, Micha Powell, Travia Jones

8:44pm 400m men- 4 entries per team in the individual events

Team China: GUO Zhongze, MAO Guorong, WU Yu'ang, FENG Zhiqiang, PAN Haitao

Team Canada: Philip Osei, Khamal Stewart-Baynes, Austin Cole, Tremaine Harris, Daniel Harper

8:52pm 4x100m women- 4 persons selected to run each leg on relay

Team China: YUAN Qiqi, GE Manqi, LIANG Xiaojing, ZHOU Yanbing

Team Canada: Khamica Bingham, Leya Buchanan, Leah Walkeden, Farah Jacques, Whitney Rowe, Crystal Emmanuel

9:00pm 4x 100m men-4 persons selected to run each leg on relay

Team China: XU Haiyang, MI Hong, XU Zhouzheng, LIANG Jinsheng, BIE Ge, MAO Guorong

Team Canada: Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Bismark Boateng, Bolade Ajomale, Gavin Smellie, Sam Effah

Scoring system

Men and Women

100m, 400m -4 entries per team

Scored 1st(8), 2nd(7), 3rd(6), 4th(5), 5th(4), 6th(3), 7th(2), 8th(1)

4x100m and 4x400m -1 entry per team

Scored 1st(16) 2nd(8)

Winner: 

Country with highest points, men’s and women’s combined receives Pacific World Cup

First $30,000 second $10,000

The Jerome events will start at 6:30pm on Tuesday and 6:10pm on Wednesday.

The complete start list and schedule is available at www.harryjerome.com

It is recommended to purchase your tickets online to reduce the line up at the newly resurfaced track at Swangard Stadium.

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

IS A MEET RECORD IN THE CARDS FOR NETTEY AT JEROME TRACK CLASSIC?

IS A MEET RECORD IN THE CARDS FOR NETTEY AT JEROME TRACK CLASSIC?

By Brian Pound

Burnaby—Surrey long jumper Christabel Nettey hopes to use the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic at Swangard Stadium this coming Tuesday and Wednesday as a launching pad into a successful series of meets that will carry her through to September. 

Another repeat of 2015 would suit her just fine, too, thank you.

For Nettey that was a wonderful year as she established the Jerome long jump meet record of 6.86 metres and both the national indoor and outdoor records of 6.99 metres.

Christabel takes top spot          Photo:Athletics Canada

At the age of 27, Nettey would also like to return to the performance she had this March in Queensland at the International Classic. Her 6.92 jump is still tied for number two on this year’s IAAF world rankings, a spot she shares with Serbia’s Ivaba Spanovic. The current leader is Malaika Mihambo of Germany at 6.99 metres, ironically Nettey’s two national records. 

Since her Queensland showing, Nettey’s performances have been mixed, ranking from 6.60 to 6.84, but that latter mark gained her the gold medal at the Australian Commonwealth Games to go in her trophy case along with the gold medal from the Toronto Pan American Games one year earlier and the bronze from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She just missed the podium at the 2015 IAAF world championships, her 6.95 jump earning her fourth place.

Photo:Athletics Canada

A five-time Canadian champion, Nettey said: “After Australia I was pretty exhausted but knowing that this season would be taking me well into September I continued to train just not as intensely, but I’m back on track and in sync and ready for what hopefully will be another breakthrough.”

Nettey’s main competition at the Jerome meet would appear to be American Kylie Price ( PB 6.77) and newly-crowned NCAA heptathlon champion from Langley Georgia Ellenwood, who will contest both the long jump and 100-metre hurdles.

The meet within a meet  will feature the Canada-China  Team Sprint Challenge for the Pacific World Cup. 

Will Greg Stewart launch a World Record Shot Put at Jerome Classic?

Dylan Armstrong mentors Greg Stewart in his specialty, the shot put  Photo:Brian Cliff

By GARY KINGSTON

Greg Stewart is excited about competing in his first Harry Jerome Track Classic on Tuesday where he will surely be looking forward to the opportunity to rub shoulders with the likes of Canadian Olympic sprint star Andre De Grasse.

“Of course, for me, it would be like rubbing hips to shoulders,” he says with a laugh over the phone from Kamloops.

No kidding. The Bunyanesque Stewart is a 7-foot-2, 320-pound behemoth who will tower over the 5-foot-9, 155-pound De Grasse, a triple medalist from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Stewart, who turns 32 in July, won’t be found on the Swangard Stadium track. But in a field discipline filled with men of enormous girth, the shot putter will still be easily identifiable in the circle, not only for his massive size, but for the fact he was born without an arm below his left elbow.

That makes Stewart, the CIS defensive player of the year in 2011 when he played basketball for Thompson Rivers University with a prosthetic he likened to a “giant ping-pong paddle,” eligible to compete in the F46 class of para-athletics.

And given the way he was progressed in his year in the sport, and under the tutelage of Dylan Armstrong, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist from Kamloops, Stewart looks like a sure bet to soon become a world record-holder and a 2020 Paralympic medalist.

His throw of 15.80 metres in Phoenix on Sunday was a personal best -- it marked a nearly  two-metre increase in just one year -- and would have been good enough to win the F46 class gold medal at the 2017 Para-athletic world championships. It’s also just .18 off the world record held by American Josh Cinnamo.

“I was just hoping to go over 15 metres,” Stewart said, adding he was surprised when he launched a 15.27 on his first throw. “Then I went 15.67 and I was like ‘Whoa, what’s going on here?’ I was all jacked and amped.”

Armstrong says he and Stewart won’t be going to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo just to make the final, “we’re going to win.”

Diane Clement, co-founder of Achilles Track Society joins the Big Boys at the Harry Jerome Indoor Games presented by TELUS las twinter   Photo; Brian Cliff

Stewart is less willing to publicly discuss that forecast, preferring to focus on technique and fundamentals, his maturing level of commitment as an athlete and the self-empowerment journey he’s been on the last four years.

“I really don’t know (what I’m capable of),” he says. “I just know I’m capable of being committed. I showed myself that over the last nine months. I know I can have fun, I know I can be a human being with work and competing and all that. I can make it work.”

After bouncing post-graduation between different jobs and cities, including Calgary and Prince George, while also playing for the national sitting and standing disabled volleyball teams, Stewart re-settled in Kamloops five years ago. With the help of a brother who works in the self-improvement field, Stewart says he’s found “a better life.”

“I’ve done a lot of mental work, spent a lot of time on graphic integration. I do a lot with feelings and love and self. It’s probably one of the biggest reasons I’m where I’m at. My connection to self, to love . . . it’s changed my whole perspective in life.”

A chance meeting at a 2016 Christmas party with a wheelchair sports coach led him to a development camp for para sports. Last October, he began training under the now-retired Armstrong and his legendary Ukrainian-born coach Dr. Anatoli Bodnarchuk.

“I’m extremely grateful,” says Stewart. “There’s no question (Armstrong) has got a wealth of knowledge and Dr. B is there too.”

Armstrong says he’s not surprised at Stewart’s quick progression.

“He’s got the body. Having those kind of levers, he’s co-ordinated, he’s athletic. It works for him. He’s got the tools to be able to throw far. Sometimes, I go ‘Oh, wow,’ but that being said, I know the system I’m using has a proven track record. Dr. B did the same with me. I’m very, very familiar with what has to happen.”

Coach Dylan Armstrong knows the challenge of international competition

Photo: Brian Cliff

Armstrong says Stewart could hit the 16-metre mark this summer and “the sky’s the limit.”

Stewart says that after years of being involved in team sports, he’s enjoying the solitude of the shot-put circle, of focussing just on himself. “I’m definitely more committed than ever before.”

He never made a Paralympic Games with the volleyball teams, so to do so in 2020 would “mean almost everything . . . just to represent myself. And I’d be extremely grateful to represent the country.  It’s a tough spot right now, with all the things going on in the world. But we as Canadians, we are good people. To represent a country that is loving, caring and connected, I’m very humbled by it.”

As for the Jerome, where he will compete alongside able-bodied throwers, Stewart says he goes in without any expectations.

“I want to take it all in. I’m not going to break any record. I just want to gain the experience. It’s all so fresh. I’m a rookie really. I just want an opportunity to build on this athletic resume.”

Will Aaron Kingsley Brown be Canada's fastest sprinter at the China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge during the Jerome Classic on June 26 and 27?

There’s a new generation of sprinters emerging in world athletics and Canada’s Aaron Brown is one of them.

It’s Saturday afternoon in Stockholm’s historic Olympic Stadium. All around the track athletes go through their final preparations ahead of competition day on Sunday. Everyone has their own routine. The mood is pretty relaxed, athletes joking with each other, taking pictures of the stadium, coaches giving final instructions, physios loosening muscles.

In one corner of the stadium, headphones in and almost in his own little world, is Canada’s Aaron Brown. The sprinter has arrived in Stockholm from Oslo, where he went under 20 seconds for 200m for the first time in his career. There’s a calmness to Brown’s movements – a mix between yoga and dynamic stretches.

As we sit down the same evening to talk, the same tranquillity lies in the 26-year-old’s voice. 

“I like to stay calm before the race,” says Brown. “I’m currently learning to play the piano. I love the piano, I love how it sounds. There are certain songs that really speak to me – I even listen to them when I warm up. Moonlight Senata, that’s one of the first songs I learnt how to play – a Beethoven song – or songs like Evanescence – My Immortal. It’s an array of songs that you maybe wouldn’t typically think I would know. Those type of songs keep me at peace and calm my spirit down.”

Once it gets to race day, the beat changes. “That’s when I go up-tempo, that’s when I want to be quick, fast paced.” Before that, Brown doesn’t want to be “too hyped” – over the years the former USC Trojan has learnt the hype-approach doesn’t work well

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Aaron Kingsley Brown will be a leader for our country during the China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge next week at the Jerome Classic  June 26 and 27 at Swangard Stadium.

4 Canadians from Team Canada vs 4 sprinters from Team China in the 100m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays ffor men and women will face off for the Pacific World Cup and $40,000 purse.

Team Canada lines up like this

From top left Aiyanna Stiverne, Sage Watson, Micha Powell, Madeline Price, Travia Jones and Alicia Brown

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

Marco Makes Mark at NCAA's on move to Jerome Track Classic June 26 and 27

Marco Arop of Edmonton exploded 10 days ago representing Mississippi State University in Nashville, TN  at the NCAA Championships with an outdoor personal best of 1:45.25 in the 800m. This Edmontonian won the Canadian U20 800m gold medal in Ottawa and then took the Pan Am U20 silver in Peru last summer. This 1.91m  and 75kg  relative newcomer to track ended the outdoor season in 2017 with personal bests of 1:47.08 in the 800m and 47.65 in the 400m. Now as a 20 year old he has moved down to 47.39 and 1:45.25

His NCAA mark ranks him 2nd in the world list in the 800m for 20 year olds this season.  Will he provide a challenge for reigning Canadian Champion Brandon McBride of Windsor who ironicly graduated from Mississippi State University one year ago?

At the Jerome Classic Marco will compete against Olympian, Anthony Romaniw of Guelph, ON and a host of runners from China and the USA

Anthony Romaniw at PanAms 2015

800m Men International

1. Matt Palmer USA 1:51.40

2. LI Jinshuai Henan 1:49.93

3. Adam Paul Morris CAN 1:49.82

4. Marco Arop CAN 1:45.25

5.Anthony Romaniw CAN 1:45.60

6.a Isaiah Jewett USA 1:47.33

6b Tyler Smith CAN 1:47.22

 7a Hans Roelle USA 1:49.22

7b Daniel Block CAN 1:49.58

Marco now lives in Edmonton, AB after Arop’s parents came from the Sudan. In 1983, the Second Sudanese Civil War broke out. As a result, Arop’s parents were forced to flee and eventually settled Canada. 

Marco Arop wins Canadian U20 gold in 2017

Marco at 6'4" was initially focussed on basketball but Ron Thompson, a coach with Voléo Athletic Club, said “He was tall. He was fast,” Thompson recalled. “He was more a 400-meter type runner with speed and endurance.” After his silver medal at the PanAm U20 800m in Peru last summer, the offers from US universities began. “I’ve never trained for anything like track and field,” Arop said. “That was a big change from before. We did a lot of hill workouts and weightlifting, which I’d never done before.”

He started at Mississippi State University in January 2018.  “As soon as track came I saw better opportunities arising,” Arop said. “I thought it’d be a better choice for me.”

Thompson is confident his runner will ascend to an even higher level among world-class competitors. It’s a bold proposition for a relative newcomer to the sport, and adds excitement to see what may come.”

“I just had the will to get better every day,” Arop said. “I think that’s been pushing me forward. I think it will continue for years to come.”

He will be competing in the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic for the first time with a host of international performers.  The feature of the 2 evening event will be the contest between China and Canada in the Team Sprint Series. On Tuesday the 4x400m relays for men and women plus the 100m men and women for China and Canada will close the evening. On Wednesday the 400m for men and women plus the 4x100m men and women will conclude the contest for the Pacific World Cup and the $40,000 purse. 

CANADA’S NEWEST TRACK AND FIELD STAR TO COMPETE AT VANCOUVER SUN HARRY JEROME CLASSIC

CANADA’S NEWEST TRACK AND FIELD STAR TO COMPETE AT VANCOUVER SUN HARRY JEROME CLASSIC

BY BRIAN POUND

Langley’s Georgia Ellenwood recently graduated with honors from University of Wisconsin but before she left she presented her school with a historic gift, UW’s first NCAA Heptathlon championship. The heptathlon is a gruelling event featuring seven events over two days with a points formula awarded based on individual performances.  Georgia is bringing that talent to the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Classic June 26-27 at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium.

She will compete in two events, the 100-metre hurdles and the long jump. It will not take her long to introduce herself to the audience, the long jump is the third event on opening night. The 100-metre hurdles is the first event on the second night.

A six-time All-American, Georgia captured the NCAA heptathlon with 6,146 points, not far off her personal best of 6,173, the Big Ten Conference record for the event. 

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“I think I’m still processing the whole thing and it doesn’t really feel like I won yet,” she said. “I think it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I know so many great heptathletes who have come through this program and to know that I’m one of them and I’m the best one that’s come through Wisconsin hasn’t really hit me yet.”

The NCAA victory capped a historic career for Georgia who won three Big Ten Conference titles and qualified for the national championships every year she competed. She is the number ten ranked performer in NCAA history in the heptathlon.

“I decided to compete in the hurdles and long jump at the Jerome” she said, “because I have been running consistently well in the hurdles so  this meet will help maintain the speed and technique that I’ve developed in that event. I rarely compete in the open long jump so I think competing in that event will give me an opportunity to see where I’m at, and hopefully to get six jumps instead of three.”

Georgia jumped a winning wind-aided 6.04m on her first jump at the NCAA finals. Her time in the hurdles was 13.60 seconds.

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This will mark Georgia’s second appearance at the Jerome meet. “I competed in the Harry Jerome meet in my last year of high school (grade 12). I believe I placed second in both the high jump and long jump, with a PB at that time of 1.78 in the high jump.”

As to the future following the Jerome meet? “The only competition I will be participating in is the Pan Am Combined events Cup in Ottawa July 3 and 4, so competing at the Harry Jerome will help my preparation for that competition. As to the heptathlon I didn’t have a personal point goal this season because as soon as I put a number in my head I focus too much on it and forget to have fun in the process. But since I have scored close to 6,200 points twice this season that would be my next Hep total that I would hope to achieve.”

Georgia was an outstanding performer in the classroom, too. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and was named the Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient from Wisconsin, an award given by the Conference each year to one male and female graduating student athlete (all sports) from each of the 14 schools who had demonstrated the best combined athletic and academic proficiency. There an estimated 10,000 student athletes competing in all sports in the Big Ten.

The Jerome meet is actually a meet within a meet, highlighted by the Canada-China Sprint Challenge for the Pacific World Cup. 

China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge

Men’s and Women’s Teams: combined scoring 

for

Pacific World Cup

Prize Money:  1stteam $30,000 CAD    2ndteam $10,000 CAD

Men

100m, 400m -4 entries per team

Scored 1st(8) 2nd(7) 3rd(6) 4th(5) 5th(4) 6th(3) 7th(2) 8th(1)

4x100m and 4x400m -1 entry per team

Scored 1st(16) 2nd(8) 

Women

100m, 400m -4 entries per team

Scored 1st(8) 2nd(7) 3rd(6) 4th(5) 5th(4) 6th(3) 7th(2) 8th(1)

4x100m and 4x400m -1 entry per team

Scored 1st(16) 2nd(8)

Winner:

Country with highest points, men’s and women’s combined

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

2018 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic Schedule and Start List-Tentative

Get your tickets now for Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic

The 35th Annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic is set for June 26 and 27 at the new track surface on Swangard Stadium.  This event will feature a unique innovation,  a 8 event dual meet with China's and Canada's national sprint teams. The winner of this Team Sprint Challenge of the fastest men and women in China and Canada will be awarded the Pacific World Cup.

The governing bodies from China and Canada, the CAA in Beijing and Athletics Canada in Ottawa have announced their 10 men and 10 women teams . This total of 40 athletes will contest the 100m, 400m plus the 4x100m and 4x400m relays over 2 days in conjunction with the normal Jerome events.

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Tickets were sold out almost a month in advance of last year's Jerome. It is advised that tickets should be bought soon, as many expect another sellout with the addition of the exciting dual meet concept.  Organizers are encouraging fans to wear the colours of their favourite team and wave their flags in support.

Sea of red and white support Canada

Details on Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classsic

Tickets for Adults, $45 for both days, $25 for a single day

Tickets for Youth (4-17 Years) $19 for both days, $11 for a single day

Tickets for Families, $96 for both days, $58 for a single day

Tickets for VIP Hospitality $115 for both days, $75 for a single day

Preferred Seating $75 for both days, $45 for a single day

Adult Group $16 a day

Youth Group $9 a day

Tickets On Sale  at www.harryjerome.com

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Can the 2 minute barrier fall at the Jerome Classic in the women's 800m?

By GARY KINGSTON

BURNABY -- The two-minute mark. In track and field circles, it’s a symbolic number for the women’s 800 metres, a race that is seen as the ultimate test of speed and endurance.

Only five Canadian women have ever gone under 2:00, with Melissa Bishop being the current national record holder at 1:57.01. Bishop also holds the Harry Jerome Track Classic meet record at 1:58.79, which she set in 2016 in winning the event for the third time.

Lindsey Butterworth, a 26-year-old SFU grad, would love to put her name alongside the likes of Bishop, Diane Cummins and B.C.’s Jessica Smith and Fiona Benson by going under 2:00 at this year’s edition of the Jerome on June 27. She’s a little leery, however, about discussing the goal.

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“I don’t want to jinx it,” the North Vancouver, said with a laugh in a recent interview.

Butterworth is though edging ever closer, particularly after setting a personal best of 2:01:13 in winning the Festival of Miles 800 at St. Louis on May 31.

“I definitely feel like there’s more,” said Butterworth. “But it’s just continuing to not worry about time. Focussing on exact split times and trying to run a time, I can’t get mixed up with all the numbers and worry about that too much.

“If I focus on competing in every race, it will come from there. Hopefully, the Harry Jerome will be really good and then it’s on to nationals (the following week) and then Europe.”

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Justine Fedronic from France

The women’s 800 at the Jerome could be one of the most competitive races on the docket with France’s Justine Fedronic (1:59.86 personal best) in the field. Fedronic, who went to school at Stanford and who now trains in Seattle with Brooks Beat Track Club, has suffered through a litany of injuries over the years but took four months off at the end of last season “to do a hard reset,” said her coach Danny Mackey.

“She sent a lot of time rebuilding herself, doing a lot of yoga,” he said. “She looks good and is tracking better every week. She’s building for the French championships and needs a 2:00.60 (or better) to qualify for the European championships. Given the time of the year, anyone can pop off a good time.”

Jenna Westaway from Calgary, Alberta

Canadians Jenna Westaway (2:01.22) and Annie LeBlanc (2:01.56) and American Stephanie Brown (2:01.71) are also in the field.

Butterworth’s first dip below 2:02 at St. Louis, where she came from third place going into the final 250 metres, was a big step.

“Finally. I have been running 2:02 consistently and earlier (in the season) than I ever have. I knew a breakthrough was there. (Coach) Brit (Townsend) kept telling me to be patient and just go into every race and be ready to compete for the win.”

Butterworth said the transition from her collegiate career to pro track has been challenging. But while working the last year in student services at SFU, she feel like she’s got a consistent routine going, a good balance between work and training.

“I’ve definitely found my place, found the love for the sport and passion. It was just about finding new reasons to enjoy it and having new goals after university, going from competing for collegiate championships and the team to more competing for myself.”

Butterworth says she’s keen to run for the first time on the newly resurfaced track at Swangard Stadium, although, unlike others, she didn’t have any real problems with the old, worn surface.

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“I knew there was some patches on it . . . but I didn’t notice it to be that bad. I’ve run on that track pretty much all my life, right from elementary meets. This will be my ninth Jerome. It’s always a really good atmosphere, really gets the nerves flowing.”

The women’s 800 is the most controversial race in world track right now because of the presence of 27-year-old South African star Caster Semenya. The two-time Olympic champion is believed by many to have an unfair advantage because of her hyperandrogenism, which causes a person to produce high levels of male hormones, including testosterone.

Of the 26 sub-2:00 times run so far this year Semenya has four of the seven fastest, including a season-best 1:55.92. With her trademark strong burst over the final 100 metres, she seems eminently capable of beating the oldest record in track and field, Czechoslovakian Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 1983 mark of 1:53:28, which is widely considered to be a product of the systematic doping by Eastern Bloc countries.

Semenya, unbeaten in more than 30 races at 800 metres since 2015, has often eased up at the end of races with some speculating she is reluctant to break the record and thereby court more attention to the advantages of her powerful physique.

Under new IAAF regulations set to come into force in November, athletes like Smenya will have to take medication to lower their levels if they wish to participate in certain events, including the South African’s preferred 800 and 1,500-metre distances.

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY: Micha Powell follows her mother to the Jerome Classic on June 26 and 27

"LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER" Micha Powell was named to Team Canada's roster for the China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge set for the 35th Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic at Swangard Stadium on Tuesday, June 26 and Wednesday June 27. Olympian, Rosey Edeh is the Canadian record holder in the 400m hurdles and daughter Micha Powell was 2016 Olympian in the 4x400m relay. Rosey competed in the Jerome Classic during the 1980's. Micha will return from competing in Europe to join her Canadian team mates for the Jerome Classic.

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Micha and father interview in Ostrava 

The Canadian Olympic Committee reported "Micha Powell has plenty of athletic pedigree. Her mother Rosey Edeh is a three-time Olympian and the Canadian record holder in the 400m hurdles. Her father Mike Powell is a two-time Olympic silver medallist for the United States and the world record holder in the long jump. But the younger Powell only began running track competitively in her senior year of high school. She now holds the University of Maryland records for the 400m both indoors and outdoors and was named a Second Team NCAA All-American for her 2016 indoor season. Powell first represented Canada at the 2015 NACAC meet. She ran a personal best 51.97 seconds in the 400m at the NCAA East Regional in May 2016. Powell was named to the 2016 Olympic team as part of the 4x400m relay ......"

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Aiyanna Stiverne, Sage Watson, Micha Powell, Madeline Price, Travia Jones and Alicia Brown clockwise from upper left corner 

Micha will join team mates on June 24 in preparation to compete in the 4x400m on Tuesday night and 400m on Wenesday night and will face strong competition from Team China lead by CHENG Chong, PAN Gaoqin, HE Ke and LIANG Nuo

Aaron Brown: Breaks 20 seconds on his way to China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge on June 26 and 27 at Swangard Stadium

Aaron Brown of Toronto became the 3rd Canadian ever to break the 20 second barrier in the 200m at the Oslo Diamond League this week with his second place mark of 19.98(1.0) just behind Turkey's World Champion Ramil Guliyev's 19.90.

He said on Twitter "19.98! Can someone get this monkey off my back?! Been a LONG time coming, thank you for all the love and support. Thank you Oslo! Next stop: Stockholm @Diamond_League @AthleticsCanada

Aaron told Doug Harrsion CBC Sports ""I really like to analyze things and sometimes I second-guess myself," said Brown. "It's not really so much the competition as it is my training. Sometimes, I trained too much and wasn't fully rested for a race and that would make me second-guess myself. But I've been in better sync with my coach this year, getting to the point that I'm confident for every race." See full article here

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Aaron Brown 

Aaron, a University of Southern California graduate took the silver medal in this event at the recent Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.  His mark moves him to the 6th place ranking on the IAAF world list for 2018. The 26 year old won the bronze medal for Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the 4x100m relay.

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Aaron Brown will race in the China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge at the 35th Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic set for June 26 and 27 at the newly laid Rekortan M99 track surface at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC. He and team mate Andre De Grasse are both graduates of the University of Southern California and vital members of Canada's 4x100m bronze medal team at the 2016 Rio Olympics.  Aaron has personal bests of 9.96(2.0) in the 100m and 200m in 19.98(1.0), just shy of Andre's 9.91(0.2) and 19.80(-0.3).

Aaron Brown

Aaron is expected to run the 100m on Tuesday night, June 26 and the 4x100m on Wednesday night, June 27. Team Canada will face the 2015 World Championhip silver medal 4x100m team from China in the Team Sprint Challenge for the Pacific World Cup.

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

China vs Canada: Can Precise Passing Conquer Raw Speed?

By Gary Kingston

Can the efficient execution of a quartet in smooth relay baton synchronicity overcome a foursome with a decided edge in individual brilliance but less practice time and confidence in the crucial exchange?

It is one of the key questions to be answered during the China-Canada Team Sprint Challenge portion of the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic June 26-27 at Swangard Stadium.

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Canada has the raw speed with Aaron Brown, Andre De Grasse, Gavin Smellie, Bismark Boateng, Sam Effah and  Bolade Ajomale, clockwise

Athletics Canada named its 21-person team for the Sprint Challenge this week and the advantage in the marquee men’s 100 metres -- one of eight events to be contested -- is pronounced. Triple Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse (9.91 personal best), Aaron Brown (9.96) Bismark Boateng (10.14) and Bolande Ajomale (10.15) all have personal and seasonal bests better than any of the Chinese contingent who will be at Swangard.

Team China 4x100m won the Diamond League in Monaco in 2017 with synchronous passing

But China has proved very adept in the last few years at having runners execute flawlessly in the 4x100 relay. In other words, the Chinese have been more than the sum of their parts.

China won an IAAF Diamond League 4x100 relay last July, two years after a shocking silver medal in the event at the world championships. For Canada, the 4x100 has too often been an event of torment -- disqualifications in the finals of the 2012 Olympics, 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2015 world relays and 2015 Pan Am Games because of either botched handoffs or lane violations.

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Team Canada's coach, Glenroy Gilbert know the "sweet feeling" as he won the gold medal in the 4x100m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games with team mates Donovan Bailey, Bruny Surin and Robert Esmie

“You can see how gut wrenching the relay can be,” Athletics Canada head coach Glenroy Gilbert said last year. “When they make little mistakes there’s no forgiveness and there’s no coming back.”

When it works well, though, it’s a "sweet feeling."

“You want to hand off in a good position and get a clean exchange, a perfect exchange. If you can do that, it’s amazing,” says Gavin Smellie, who ran a personal best 10.01 earlier this year and figures to be a part of the Canadian team in the relay at Swangard.

China won’t have its top two sprinters at Swangard -- Su Bingtian and Xie Zhenye -- but Xu Zhouzheng, Bie Ge and Liang Jinsheng, who will be at the Jerome, were part of a foursome who ran a solid 38.72 in Japan in late May. And those two have been training together in California the last few weeks with the rest of the Chinese squad headed to Burnaby. Canada, minus the injured De Grasse in the usual anchor position, ran a 38.97 in Australia in March.

Andre De Grasse looking to start his comeback  from injury                                                                                 

Meantime, while the hugely popular De Grasse, who was mobbed by young kids after his races at the Jerome in 2016 and 2017, will undoubtedly be the star attraction again, he’s been off to a relatively slow start this season. After taking nine months off from competing when he sustained a hamstring injury at last summer’s IAAF world championships, De Grasse was fourth in the 100 at the Drake Relays this spring in 10.15 in his first race back. He than ran the 200 in Qatar in 20.46 to finish sixth and was eighth in 10.25 seconds in a rain-drenched 100-metre race in Shanghai.

“I still had the speed, but you also need the fitness to hold that speed for 10 seconds or 20 seconds, and I didn’t have that in those races,” De Grasse said in Toronto last weekend. “It’s been a slow start to the season for me, but I’m not panicking. I’m not worried.

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“Now, it’s about going back to the drawing board, trying to put it back together again and then go out there and try to win a race.”

Khamica Bingham looking to regain her form of 2016

On the women’s side at the Jerome, Canadians Khamica Bingham (11.13 PB) and Leya Buchanan (11.17 PB) will be favored in the 100 metres, but Canada’s sprinters -- Leah Walkeden, Farah Jacques and Whitney Rowe are the other women who will be at Swangard -- haven’t run a 4x100 metre relay this season.

Team China 4x100m

The Chinese quartet of Yuan Qiqi, Ge Manqi, Liang Xiaojing and Zhou Yanbing has gone 43.33 and 43.51 so far in 2018.

Sage Watson

In the women’s 400, Sage Watson of Medicine Hat, Alta., looks to be the class of the field with a personal best of 51.62 that is two seconds better than any of the Chinese runners. With Aiyanna Stiverne, Alicia Brown and Micha Powell all with PBs under 52 seconds, Canada should be favored in the 4x400 where the baton exchange isn’t as crucial.

Philip Osei, Khamal Stewart-Baynes, Austin Cole and Tremaine Harris comprise the Canadian men’s 400-metre group, but Guo Zhongze has the fastest PB of anyone on the Jerome start list after last year breaking a 16-year-old Chinese record with a time of 45.14.

China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge

Men’s and Women’s Teams: combined scoring for

Pacific World Cup

Prize Money:  1st team $30,000 CAD    2nd team $10,000 CAD

Men

100m, 400m -4 entries per team

Scored 1st(8) 2nd(7) 3rd(6) 4th(5) 5th(4) 6th(3) 7th(2) 8th(1)

4x100m and 4x400m -1 entry per team

Scored 1st(16) 2nd(8)

 Women

100m, 400m -4 entries per team

Scored 1st(8) 2nd(7) 3rd(6) 4th(5) 5th(4) 6th(3) 7th(2) 8th(1)

4x100m and 4x400m -1 entry per team

Scored 1st(16) 2nd(8)

Winner:

Country with highest points, men’s and women’s combined

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

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Athletics Canada names 21 athletes who will compete in the Team Sprint Challenge at Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

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Glenroy Gilbert    Head Coach Team Canada 

About the Harry Jerome Track Classic

The Harry Jerome Track Classic is Canada’s longest-running track and field event. In its 35-year history, World and Olympic champions, world record holders, Canadian stars and young hopefuls have thrilled spectators, achieved personal bests and, thanks to the vision and dedication of the Achilles International Track and Field Society, continued in their quest to become faster, higher and stronger.

The Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic is hosted by the Achilles International Track & Field Society, a non-profit society registered in British Columbia. Net proceeds from this event support track and field competition in B.C.

For more information on the Harry Jerome Track Classic and the Team Sprint Challenge, visit www.harryjerome.com.

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

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CBC Sports: Andre De Grasse - The Comeback

3-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse talks about his road back to recovery after a hamstring injury that took him out of the world championships last year ... by CBC Sports

An important step in Andre De Grasse's comeback will be his races for the Canadian Team at the China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge set for the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic.

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

CHINA vs CANADA INTERNATIONAL featured at Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

HIGH JUMPER MIKE MASON LOOKS FOR PERSONAL BEST AT HARRY JEROME TRACK CLASSIC

BURNABY—Nanoose Bay high jumper Mike Mason has competed in 13 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classics. His 14th time could very well end up being a record-breaking appearance.

The men’s high jump record for the Jerome is 2.31 metres, set back in 2009 by World Champion, American Jesse Williams. Two weeks ago in Victoria, Mason, representing the Nanaimo track and field club, cleared 2.32 metres on his second attempt. It currently puts him tied for fourth on the IAAF World best list for this year. The leader is Essa Barshim of Qatar, who has the two top jumps at 2.40 and 2.36 metres.

Mason’s best performance at the Jerome meets is 2.28 metres. 

Can Mason break the Jerome record? “I usually don’t focus on a specific number,” he said, “but I have been feeling good so hopefully I can get a good performance at Jerome this year.”

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Mason, coached by Jeff Huntoon and strength and conditioning coach Dale Labans, has a personal best jump of 2.33 metres, which he has accomplished twice. 

Mike Mason     photo by Claus Andersen

 “I’m aiming to improve on that this year,”he said.”I believe the best way for me to approach that goal is with consistency in my practice and competition.”

A three-time Olympian and UBC grad, Mason won a silver medal at the 2009 World University Games and a bronze at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and another silver at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games. Back in 2004, Mason won the IAAF World Junior championship, becoming only the second Canadian to win that World gold medal. The first was Mark Boswell in 1996.

Mike Mason at Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic    photo by Brian Cliff

Back in 2010, Mason underwent surgery to remove bone chips in the ankle of his takeoff foot. He took a year off to recover and considered quitting the sport. Thankfully, he was talked out of it.

Besides the Jerome, Mason will be competing this year in both the Toronto and Calgary street competitions as well as the Canadian Championships and NACAC’s in Toronto and “I would like to compete in some international competitions this season.”

A record performance at the Jerome meet would be a nice way to start that journey.

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Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

Fighting, Flying Man from Chonqing to Lead Team China on June 26 and 27

BIE Ge and his team mates on China's 4x100m relay team set a seasonal best in Osaka on May 20th as they prepare to meet Canada in the Team Sprint Challenge for the Pacific World Cup in the 35th Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic on June 26th and 27th at Swangard Stadium. 

China recorded 38.72 seconds to secure an 8th place on the 2018 world ranking compared to Canada’s 11th spot 38.97 set in April in Brisbane, Australia.  Fighting, Flying Man from Chonqing, BIE Ge said “All the efforts I’ve paid this year are for the Olympic Games, ……I hope I can make it to the 2020 Tokyo Games.”  His team will include LIANG Jinsheng,  XU Zhouzheng, MI Hong and XU Haiyang in the 4x100m at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium

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LIANG Xiaojing  receives baton for Team China

Team China women’s 4x100m team took the gold medal in Osaka with a 6th place world ranking with 43.33 seconds. The team was led off by LIANG Xiaojing followed by HUANG Guifen, GE Manqi and anchored by YUAN Qiqi. Team Canada has yet to compete in this event in 2018.  

Glenroy Gilbert, Team Canada's coach

Glenroy Gilbert, Team Canada’s coach is expected to name his team within the next few days. He will name 20 athletes to cover the program of 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m for men and women.  Glenroy was a gold medalist in the 4x100m for Canada at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

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Damian Warner,  ranked number 1 decathlete on 2018 IAAF World List

Track fans are advised to get their tickets now as 2017 for the Jerome Classic was a sell out. Damian Warner who set a new Canadian record in the decathlon as he took the gold medal at the Hypomeeting in Gotzis, Austria is confirmed to run the 110m hurdles at the Jerome Track Classic.

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Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

Damian Warner moves to top of World List in Gotzis, Austria en route to the Jerome

Damian Warner found his sweet spot at the 44th Hypomeeting in Gotzis, Austria over the past two days. The Canadian Olympic medalist decathlete was finally healthy after a virus plagued World Championships last summer in London. He also avoided a no height in the pole vault that eliminated him at the Commonwealth Games in Australia this spring. 

He delivered an amazingly strong 2 days in the 10 event challenge which many consider to be reflective of the greatest athlete in the world. He moves to the top of the 2018 world list and breaks his own Canadian record by 200 points with his 8795 points.

Saturday 100m- 10.31, Long jump-7.81m, Shot put- 14.83m, High jump-2.03m 400m- 47.72

Today 110m hurdles 13.56, Discus- 47.52m Pole vault 4.80m, Javelin-61.94m, 1500m 4:26.59

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Damian Warner at 2017 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic  photo by Brian Cliff

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Damian will compete at the 35th Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic on June 26 and 27 at the newly rebuilt track at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. He is likey to choose the 110m Hurdles which he won in last year's Jerome Classic.

Les Gramantik

He moved from London, ON last year to train with Les Gramantik in Calgary and it is wonderful to see that he is making progress with his great performance in Gotzis.

It is advised to get your tickets early as the Jerome Classic sold out in advance in 2017

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Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

Damian Warner at 2917 Jerome Classic   photo by Brian Cliff

Coquitlam Sprinters searching for fast lane at Jerome Track Classic

Next week Canada’s National Team Head Coach, Glenroy Gilbert will announce the selections for China vs Canada Team Sprint Challenge set for Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic on June 26 and 27 at Swangard Stadium.

Sitting on the bubble for selection is Coquitlam’s Jerome Blake. Could he make the national team? He burst onto the limelight in 2014 at Macleod Athletic Park in Langley, BC for the 2014 BC High School Championships. He was a student at Rutland Secondary in Kelowna at that time after his family had settled there after arriving from Jamaica.

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He began training with Pat Sima-Ledding from the Okanagan Athletics Club and made rapid improvement. Last summer Jerome Blake and Ontario’s Karson Kowalchuk both beat the 100-metre time the great Canadian sprinter, Andre De Grasse posted when he ran in the Canada Summer Games four years ago. De Grasse, 18 at the time, claimed gold with a 10.49. Kowalchuk, 18, and Blake, 21, sprinted to a photo finish, each running the race in 10.38 seconds. Jerome Blake took the gold in the 200m in 20.87 seconds. 

Last summer Blake said of his Canada Games experience. “It’s been a great time, I am pretty excited for the future and to see what the young guys in Canada are gonna do.” 

Blake’s plan for 2018 is to work on getting his Canadian citizenship. “My main goal is to represent Canada one day on the global stage.”

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from left Coach Tara Self, Ben Ayesu-Attah, James Linde and Nathan George

This season Jerome Blake made a big decision and moved his coaching and training to Coquitlam Cheetahs under former Olympian, Tara Self. Her group contains James Linde, Ben Ayesu-Attah and Nathan George who will be candidates themselves for selection by Glenroy Gilbert on the 4x400m team.

from left Andre De Grasse, Brendon Rodney and Aaron Brown

Jerome Blake’s dream is moving forward as he was invited to attend the National Sprint Training Camp in Baton Rouge, LA late in April. He moved his personal best to 10.24 in the 100m and ran on Canada’s winning relay team with Sam Effah, Bismark Boating, Ben Williams in 39.02.  However Glenroy Gilbert’s selection will include the 2018 times of 

10.01(1.4) Gavin Smellie, 10.12(-0.7) Aaron Brown, 10.14(1.9) Bismark Boateng, 10.15(1.5) Andre De Grasse, 10.22(1.2) Duan Asemota, 10.23(1.9) Sam Effah and 10.24(1.4) Jerome Blake

Jerome Blake

This ranking definitely puts Jerome Blake on the bubble for making out National team this time. However efforts are underway for provincial team to be included in the China Canada 4x 100m relay.

If not selected to our national team this time, he will sprint against a strong group from Canada and from Henan province in the sprints

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As the 2017 Jerome Classic was sold out, it is recommended to get your tickets early online.

Ticket Prices Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic

Tickets For Adults, $45 For Both Days, $25 For A Single Day

Tickets For Youth (4-17 Years) $19 For Both Days, $11 For A Single Day

Tickets For Families, $96 For Both Days, $58 For A Single Day

Tickets For VIP Hospitality $115 For Two Days, $75 For One Day

Preferred Seating $75 For Two Days, $45 For One Day

Adult Group $16 A Day

Youth Group $9 A Day

All Ticket Packages are available at www.harryjerome.com

Hertz to sponsor Jerome

Hertz Canada is pleased to sponsor the 2018 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic and the 2018 China-Canada Team Sprint Challenge.

Hertz is an iconic brand with a 100-year history of success delivering superior service to car rental customers. At Hertz, ‘we’re here to get you there,’ whether that’s to the Harry Jerome International Track Classic, a business meeting, or vacation destination.

The Hertz Corporation operates three leading rental car brands — Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty — each dedicated to supporting travelers with top-rated vehicles and exceptional customer service. Hertz offers an array of products and services, including the award-winning Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program, which provides a fast and seamless rental experience, as well as Ultimate Choice®, which allows customers at more than 55 top North American airports to choose the car that is right for them. Hertz also has a large and diverse fleet featuring a mix of vehicles from compact cars to roomy sedans, SUVs and minivans.

With locations in the lower mainland of B.C., and Vancouver Island, as well as locations nationwide and around the world, Hertz, is pleased to provide car rental services to visitors to the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic. Reservations can be made online at hertz.ca or by calling 1-800-263-0600 and quoting Customer Discount Number (CDP ID #) 2151586.