The Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic is less that 4 weeks away and many local endurance runners are gearing up for the men’s 1500m.  In many cases this will be an opportunity for those who specialize in the 5000m and 3000m steeplechase to test their speed over the metric mile.

John Gay, steeplechaser is a good example.  From Kelowna and a recent UBC NAIA Champion, his 1500m best is 3:43.37 while his 3000m steeplechase best time is 8:31.40. He is shooting for the IAAF standard for the Doha World Championships for the steeplechase which is 8:29.00. He competed for Canada at the Francophone Games and World Student Games in 2018.

Lucas Bruchet, 2016 Rio Olympian in the 5000m is coming back from injury that forced him into cross training for the months of February, March and April this year. He is searching for the form that led him to the 2017 and 2018 Canadian Cross Country Championships and the 2018 Canadian team for the NACAC Championships. World Championships Canadian trials are not until the end of July, where he needs the 5000m standard of 13:22.50. His personal best at 1500m is 3:39.13.

Justin Kent is fresh from his 2018 Sun Run victory and last weekend’s silver medal at the Canadian 10km Championships in Ottawa.  The UBC graduate trains with the BC Endurance Project led by Coach Richard Lee and represented Canada at the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Demark this winter. Justin has a best at 1500m of 3:41.00.

Kieran Lumb just won the 5000m at the NAIA Championships in Gulf Shores, AL for the UBC Thunderbirds who captured both the men’s and women’s team titles. The 20 year old is a multi-talented athlete who shown his ability in cross country skiing, the Red Bull 400m, World Mountain Running Championships as well at the track. This spring he ran a personal best of 13:40.51 for the 5000m in Torrance, CA. The Lord Byng SS graduate has a best of 3:45.86 over the metric mile.

Do not miss the women's 800m who will feature World Championship medalist, Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, Olympian, Jessica Smith and Lindsey Butterworth.

Get your tickets for the Jerome Classic at www.harryjerome.com

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