May 7, 2021

DOZENS OF CANADIAN TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES ON GIANT TOKYO OLYMPIC BUBBLE

No one can recall an experience of living in the COVID-19 dominated conditions of the past 15months.  Everyone is unable to predict what conditions lie ahead. This uncertainty is very impactful for the athletes searching for a selection to the Tokyo Olympics.

Disruption of training, travel and access to competition needed to attain the very tough Olympic standards required to qualify by World Athletics, dominates Canadian track and field athletes. This huge challenge creates an inability to know what is coming next and the deadline to obtain selection is just 7 weeks away.

Three days following the conclusion of the Olympic Trials set for Montreal on May 27, will be the closure of the qualifying window.  Athletics Canada will nominate Canada’s Olympic team members to the Canadian Olympic Committee for ratification to travel to the Tokyo Olympics which start July 23.

Almost 3 dozen Canadian athletes to date have met the demands of this complex selection process to be nominated by Athletics Canada.  This list is an approximation not comprehensive, as selection recommendations will impact the final list.

Men: 14

Andre De Grasse, Damian Warner, Aaron Brown, Brandon McBride, Pierce Lepage, Mohammed Ahmed, Marco Arop, Tim Nedow, Justyn Knight, Matthew Hughes, Evan Dunfee, Trevor Hofbauer, Ben Preisner, Tristan Woodfine

Women: 19

Gabriela Debues-Stafford, Alysha Newman, Sage Watson, Brittany Crew, Crystal Emmanuel, Genevieve Lalonde, Andrea Seccafien, Natasha Wodak, Malindi Elmore, Rachel Cliff, Sarah Mitton, Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, Dayna Pidhoresky, Camryn Rogers, 4x400m relay-5 athletes

Each event for athletics in Tokyo has a set quota or maximum for entry. If athletes with the Olympic standards do not complete the quota, the remaining spots are filled using World Rankings as of June 30, 2021.  Currently several Canadian athletes sit in this bubble of uncertainty.  They may rank with in the quota now but will be subject to athletes from around the world seeking to move their own ranking up.   Hence every result counts until the end of June. These ranking are updated by World Athletics each Wednesday at https://www.worldathletics.org/stats-zone/road-to/7132391

Men: 12 Rank/Quota

Mike Mason 14/32, Gavin Smellie 47/56, Brendon Rodney 28/56, Jerome Blake 32/56, Bismark Boateng 54/56, Kieran Lumb 38/42, John Gay 41/45, Matt Bilodeau 57/60, 4x100m relay-5 athletes 13/16, 4x400 mixed 15/16- 3 athletes  

Women: 12 Rank/Quota

Lindsey Butterworth 28/48, Liz Gleadle 15/32, Kyra Constantine 26/48, Aiyanna Stiverne 46/48, Lucia Stafford 32/45, Christabel Nettey 32/32, Julie Anne Staehli 39/42, Jessica O'Connell 37/42, Regan Yee 35/45, Mariah Kelly 37/45, Madeleine Kelly 46/48, 4x400m mixed 15/16- 3 athletes

The 2021 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic is planned for the June 12th weekend. The 38th edition of Canada’s longest standing track and field meet will focus on preparing our athletes for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, the Rashpal Dhillon Track & Field Oval at the University of British Columbia and the Hillside Stadium in Kamloops.

Meet organizer, Nigel Hole is asking any athlete who may have an interest in competing register their interest by completing this online form.  Please recognize that registering on this online form does not guarantee participation.  

ONLINE FORM LINK:  https://forms.gle/nfQeTYmuxktGWgyH7

The public health regulations are sure to change by June 2021 and organizers are aiming to provide opportunities to athletes aiming to achieve qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.  The final event list inclusion will change as we move forward in these challenging times.

If you are accepted to participate that information will be available on our website near the event dates   www.harryjerome.com