Over the 36 years the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic has been held, a multitude of young inexperienced athletes have moved on to international recognition. This meet has provided the opportunity for the up and coming athlete to take their first steps towards the Olympic Games.

Think of Lynn Kanuka, our 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Bronze medalist getting her international medal in the 1500m at the Jerome Classic in 1983 with a time of 4:09.41. Think of the Jerome Classic as a place to find your potential and be discovered by the world of track and field.

Think of Brianne Thiesen-Eaton, our 5 time World Championship and Olympic, gold and silver heptathlon medalist. Brianne competed at the Jerome in 2013  with a time of 13.18 in the 100m hurdles.

Think of Joely Welburn, the rookie of the year in U Sport Track and Field Championships this winter in Winnipeg.

Think of Joely at 19 years of age and yet to compete in any major international competition. Truly a real rookie in the sport of track and field. Untested in the glare of bigtime sport.  Joely has declared her goal to be selected to the Olympic Games for Canada. A more possible first step might be to qualify for Canada's U23 team to the NACAC Championships set for Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico set for July 5/6.

Well there is a real linkage here. All these athletes are from Saskatchewan. Lynn Kanuka is from Saskatoon, Brianne from Humboldt and Joely grew on the family grain and cattle farm midway between Bengough and Big Beaver but graduated from high school in Balgonie (population 1745 people). She now is a first year student at the University of Regina.

There must be a strong drive to succeed for athletes from the vigorous and challenging environment of the prairie winters. Does Joely Welburn have the same spirit and toughness that Lynn Kanuka and Brianne Thiesen-Eaton brought to Canadian sport?

Joely will tackle the high jump against strong fields in the long jump and high jump on June 20th at Swangard Stadium. Expect more entries in the next few weeks.

Is this Joely's first step to the international stage?

Long Jump

Aasha Marler USA 6.43m

Divya Biswal CAN 6.30m

Georgia Ellenwood CAN 6.19m

Jasmine Lew CAN 6.17m

Joely Welburn CAN 5.91m

High Jump

Emma Kimoto CAN 1.84m

Alexa Porpaczy CAN 1.80m

Emily Branderhorst CAN 1.79m

Joely Welburn CAN 1.73m

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See star track and field athletes like Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, Django Lovett, Georgia Ellenwood, and Liz Gleadle at the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic in Thursday evening, June 20th at Swangard Stadium. Tickets for the Jerome meet are available at harryjerome.com/tickets.