Congratulations to BC athletes Chanell Botsis-Coquitam, Kaila Butler-Port Coquitlam, Nicole Hutchinson-West Vancouver, Kieran Lumb-Vancouver and Brittni Wolczyk-Port Coquitlam for making the 2019 Summer Univsersiade team for Canada!

These athletes are scheduled to participate in the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic set for Swangard Stadium on June 20. They will join FISU team mate, Courtney Hufsmith of Saskatoon in the 36thedition of the Jerome Classic. This event will be a critical step in all Canadian athletes aiming for the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru on June 26 to August 11 and the World Championships in Doha, Qatar September 28 to October 6. Expect to see Vancouver’s Liz Gleadle in the javelin and Langley’s Georgia Ellenwood in the heptathlon use this opportunity to seek the qualification standards needed for team selection.

TICKETS ON SALE: Tickets for the Jerome Track Classic, ranging in price from $11 for a youth and $20 for an adult to $45 for preferred seating and $75 for VIP hospitality, are on sale now through the website www.harryjerome.com

Athletics Canada nominates 2019 Summer Universiade (FISU) team

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the 41 athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada at the 2019 Summer Universiade (FISU). The bi-annual World University Games will celebrate its 30th anniversary from July 3-14 in Napoli, Italy – six decades after the inaugural event in Torino – and will feature nearly 9,300 athletes and delegates from 128 countries.

Of the 14 men and 27 women set to compete in athletics, only four participated in the 2017 Summer Universiade that was held in Taipei City, Taiwan, making this the first FISU experience for the vast majority of the team. Canadian student-athletes will step on to the track in 26 different events ranging from the 100-metre sprint to the 10,000-metre race, 12 athletes will compete in field events ranging from the long jump to javelin throw, two will take part in the heptathlon and one the half marathon.

Coming off a fantastic 2019 U SPORTS campaign, 800-metre specialist Jenna Westaway looks to continue her winning ways in Napoli. “The 2019 Summer Universiade is a fantastic venue for Team Canada to experience international championship racing leading into 2020. I’m going to make the most of that opportunity,” said Westaway. “I came away from FISU in 2017 disappointed, but with a better understanding of the ins and outs of Major Games. Since then I’ve moved into new space; I have the experience of Taipei and the 2018 World Championships with me, and I’m coming off of my most successful indoor season to date. I’ll be racing with the intent of moving through rounds and deep into the final. I can’t imagine a more meaningful way to have had my U SPORTS career come to an end. The 2019 Universiade team is just an absolute joy to be a part of.”

Athletics competition will take place at San Paolo Stadium with qualification rounds scheduled for July 9-11 and finals on July 12-13.