Harry Jerome International Track Classic 2011
Meet Preview and LIVE Streaming Info

LIVE STREAMING VIDEO
Provided by Flotrack, starting at 5:00pm ET/2:00pm PT

The 28^th Annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic is set for Swangard Stadium on July 1 at 2pm.  This competition is the first stop for the new 5 cities National Track League. The NTL that was to be launched in Edmonton on June 29^th was cancelled because of thunderstorms. Next stop in the $300,000 dollar circuit is Victoria on July 3^rd followed by Halifax on July 10^th with the Grand Finale in Toronto on July 13^th.

The Jerome Classic features almost 500 athletes from over 16 countries, competing in 26 events.  Twelve recently crowned Canadian champions will face stiff competition from around the world. All our competitors will strive for the standard performance requirements for entry into the World Championships in Korea, World University Games in China and the Pan American Games in Mexico.

 

The Top Ten Events

 1. Men’s Shot Put

Canada’s Dylan Armstrong leads the world with his tremendous throw of 22.21m in Calgary last weekend.  He is throwing in Lausanne at the Diamond League today and will arrive in Vancouver just an hour before the start of the Jerome. He currently leads the Diamond League with 8 points.  He will face Americans, Russ Winger and Noah Bryant who rank in the world’s top 15 with throws of 20.94m and 20.80m.

2.  Women’s Hammer Throw

Kathrin Klaas has just arrived from her home in Germany to compete with the best Canadian and US throwers. Kathrin holds the number 3 spot in the world with her throw of 75.48m this season.  This 2008 Olympian was a bronze medal winner at the World Universiade and fourth at the last World Championships. Canadian record holder and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Sultana Frizell has a best of 72.24m. She along with new Canadian champion, Heather Steacy will join with Americans, Britney Henry and Loree Smith to strive for the World Championship standard of 71.50m.

3. Women’s 100m Hurdles

Perdita Felicien is a two time World Champion and medal winner at both the World Championships and Pan American Games.  She holds the Canadian record of 12.46 seconds.  This University of Illinois graduate keeps the dream alive of Olympic honours.

The 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games were marred by a fall at the first hurdle in Athens and a foot injury in Beijing. She hopes that London will be on track for a podium finish.  Following in her footsteps are Torontonians, Phylicia George (12.89) and Nikkita Holder (12.91 who edged veteran, Angela Whyte (12.90) in Calgary last weekend. All have made the World Championship A standard of 12.96 seconds. They will be joined by Olympic heptathlete, Jessica Zelinka, the Commonwealth games silver medalist who has a best of 12.97 seconds.

4. Women’s Long Jump

Ruky Abdulai who is the new Canadian champion in the heptathlon has already written her ticket to Daegu, Korea for the World Championships in August. As the former Canadian record holder in the long jump at 6.74m, she will face serious pressure from the new Canadian champion, Krysha Bayley and veteran Canadian jumper, Alice Falaiye.

Ola Sesay of Sierra Leone will add a foreign flavour with best of 6.64m.

5. Men’s 800m

Canadian champion, Andrew Ellerton will face serious competition from Cas Loxsom who won the silver medal for the US at last year’s World Junior Championships in Moncton.  They will be joined by Prince Mumba of Zambia, Richard Jones of the US along with Canadians, Kyle Smith and Quin Ferguson as all seeks the target of 1:45.40.

6. Men’s Javelin

Scott Russell, the Canadian champion and record holder will be challenged by Corey White and Mike Hazle of the US as all strive to exceed World championship standard of 82m.  Canadians, Kyle Nielsen and Curtis Moss will be going after the Pan American Games standard of 81m.

7. Women’s 1500m

Kara Goucher, two time Olympian, won the World Championship bronze medal for the US over 10k and has a marathon best of 2h24:52, is on the come back trail after the birth of her son, 10 months ago. Her best of 4:05.64 will be a match for a strong field of runners, which include Olympian, Malindi Elmore of Kelowna, Georgie Clarke of Australia, Hilary Stellingwerff of Toronto and Nicole Edwards Sifuentes of Winnipeg. Canadians will be searching for a World Championship A standard of 4:05.90 or a World Championship B standard of 4:08.90.

8. Women’s Pole Vault

Carly Dockendorf of Port Moody, the Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist, will be competing against the Jerome 2010 winner, Mary Saxer of the US.  They will be attempting to break the Jerome meet record of 4.41m, set by Gao Shuying of China, and to achieve the World Championship B standard of 4.40m. Gabriella Duclos-Lasnier of Quebec will be attempting to improve her best performance of 4.35m.

9. Men’s 100m

Canada’s fastest man this season is Justyn Warner of Toronto with his 10.15 seconds. He will challenge American, Rae Monazous Edwards whose best of 10.00 seconds is extremely close to Donovan Bailey’s Jerome meet record of 9.99 seconds.  Let’s hope for a legal trailing wind of 2m/sec.

10. Women’s 800m

This will be a battle for top spot in a time under the World Championship B standard of 2:01.30 between Lemlem Ogbasilassie of Quebec and Helen Crofts of Bowen Island.  Christine Schmaltz of the US who has run 2:01.17 plus Lea Wallace and Lindsey Schnell of the US will spur both on.