HARRY JEROME TRACK CLASSIC DELIVERS RECORD PERFORMANCES INSPITE OF COVID-19

The Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic  concluded the 37th Covid-19 version with surprising success.  Just 71 athletes were able to participate due to the very tight provincial health regulations at Swangard Stadium on June 12th but one Canadian record, one Olympic Standard, four meet records, 27 personal bests and 30 seasonal best were achieved by the all-Canadian cast.

Evan Dunfee toured 25 laps of the 400m Swangard track to produce a current world leading mark of 38:39.72 in the 10,000m racewalk to break the Canadian record by over 10 seconds.

The Olympic bound Richmond, BC scored 1188 World Athletics points to lead all male athletes in the competition. The UBC graduate was 4th at the 2012 Rio Olympics and a bronze medalist at the 2019 Doha World Championships.

Mike Mason of Nanoose Bay, BC came within 1 cm of the meet record with his great jump of 2.30m in his 3rdcompetition of the spring scoring 1179 World Athletic points. The UBC graduate will have a good shot at his 4th Olympic Games as he is currently ranked 6th on the World Rankings.  The 34 year old has a trio of podium finishes at the Pan American and Commonwealth Games and is looking to be  a finalist contending for a podium position in Tokyo.

Luc Bruchet, a 2016 Rio Olympic competitor, closed the event with hundreds of fans socially distanced behind the stadium fencing, cheering him on to a shocking 10 second improvement in the 5000m. The UBC graduate was supported by extraordinary pacing by Cameron Proceviat, Justin Kent and John Gay to the 4000m.  Luc stormed through the last kilometer in 2:34 to achieve the Tokyo Olympic qualification with a new meet record of 13:12.56. This outstanding run scored 1163 World Athletics.

Regan Yee and Alycia Butterworth of Langley Mustangs achieved personal bests in the 3000m steeplechase and just missed the Olympic qualifying mark by under 2 seconds. A photo finish   to the 4 hurdle and 1 water jump for each of the 7 ½ lap challenge, was needed to separate Regan’s 9:31.07 and Alycia’s 9:31.27. The Olympic Trials in Montreal in less than 2 weeks will provide the next opportunity. Regan Yee scored 1166 World Athletics points over Alycia’s 1165 points.

SFU graduate, Lindsey Butterworth scored 1142 WA points as she took first in the 800m with 2:01.19 over Saskatchewan’s Julianne Labach’s 2:01.53