Faces to follow on Canada's Rio-bound track and field team

Canada's strongest Olympic track and field team ever was announced on Monday in Edmonton, and here are some of the top contenders headed to Rio in August.

Andre De Grasse went sub-10 seconds in the 100-metre in Edmonton.

The 21-year-old from Markham, Ont., crossed the line in 9.99 seconds en route to winning the 100 metres at the Canadian track and field championships in Edmonton on Saturday. Toronto's Aaron Brown and Calgary's Akeem Haynes came second and third in the Olympic trials respectively landing all three on the Canadian team headed to Rio in August.

Brendon Rodney rocketed by De Grasse to win the 200-metre.

The 24-year-old from Hamilton ran a blistering 19.96 to become just the second Canadian in history to dip under the 20-second barrier. He's headed to Rio, as are Aaron Brown and women's sprint specialist Crystal Emmanuel who will be racing the 100 and 200-metre women's sprints after winning both events in Edmonton. De Grasse will race the 200-metre in Rio, too.

De Grasse and Brown will join forces with Brendon and Nigeria-born Canadian Oluwasegun Makinde on the 4x100-metre relay team.

Phylicia George was named to the 100-metre hurdles and relay team.

The powerhouse hurdler from Markham, Ont., will compete in the 100-metre hurdles and the 4x100-metre relay in Rio after strong performances at trials in Edmonton. 

Melissa Bishop and Brandon McBride are threats in the 800-metre.

Both Bishop and McBride made the grade in the women's and men's 800-metre distance event in Edmonton to earn their spots in Rio, as did Anthony Romaniw. 

Gabriela Stafford moved to the front in the 1,500-metre.

The 20-year-old from Toronto held off Winnipeg's Nicole Sifuentes and Sarnia, Ont., runner Hilary Stellingwerff to win gold in four minutes 18.51 seconds. The trio booked their spots on Canada's Olympic team. 

Male runners Nathan Brannen, from Cambridge, Ont., and Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, from Quebec City, booked their tickets to Rio in Edmonton, too.

Canada's distance king is riding momentum to Rio.

Mohammed Ahmed, from St. Catharines, Ont., capped off a stellar season with a first place finish in the 5000-metre crossing the line ahead of Vancouver's Lucas Bruchet. Both will be headed to Rio. Ahmed will also compete in the 10,000-metre, as will dual distance runner Lanni Marchant who is also in the women's marathon.

Andrea Seccafien of Guelph, Ont., won the women's 5,000 metres to secure her spot on the Olympic team followed by Jessica O'Connell of Calgary.

Hurdler Noelle Montcalm pulled a double-whammy in Edmonton.

The 28-year-old Windsor, Ont. runner booked her ticket to Rio in dramatic fashion, both winning the women's 400-metre hurdles and dipping below the Olympic qualifying standard in the same race.

Joining Montcalm are Sage Watson, of Medicine Hat, Alta., and Chanice Chase of Ajax, Ont., who were second and third in Edmonton respectively, leaving former Olympian Sarah Wells, who was a favourite going into the meet, off the team.

Canadians are looking strong in the steeplechase.

In the 3000-metre steeplechase, Winnpeg's Erin Teschuk, Calgarian Maria Bernard and Genevieve Lalonde of Moncton, N.B., took the top three spots to punch their tickets to Brazil. Taylor Milne, Chris Winter and Matthew Hughes were named to the men's team.

Canadian throwers have their sights on Rio.

Liz Gleadle of Vancouver made the Olympic team after winning the women's javelin event in Edmonton. 

Brockville, Ontario's Tim Nedow, who won a silver medal at the Pan Am Games, was also named to Team Canada in the shot put event. 

Derek Drouin and Shawn Barber top the jumpers.

Drouin, from Sarnia, Ont., is the reigning world champion, as is pole vaulter Shawn Barber. Both are headed to Rio after first place finishes in their respective disciplines in Edmonton. High jumpers Michael Mason and Alyxandria Treasure, the lone Canadian woman high jumper, are Rio-bound, too.

Multidisciplinary athletes headed to Rio include:

Decathlete Damian Warner, who jumped over eight metres in the long jump, and Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who has also been peaking at the right time, give Canada two more medal threats for Brazil.

The track and field events begin on Aug. 12, the second Friday of Rio 2016, and run until closing ceremony day on Aug. 21.