Canadian track and field athletes prepare for crucial qualifier ahead of world championships
De Grasse, Warner among key absences for Langley, B.C., event beginning Wednesday
In a post-Olympic year like no other, Canadian track and field athletes are ramping up for another jam-packed summer of international competition.
Their quest for the podium at the world championships next month in Eugene, Oregon goes through the Township of Langley, B.C. this week as the track and field national championships are set to begin Wednesday — a crucial qualifier for athletes still looking to earn their spot onto the Canadian team heading to worlds.
"It's a totally unique Olympic cycle through to Paris. It's a unique year having two major championships in the same year. The world championships and Commonwealth Games. That's never happened in Athletics before," Simon Nathan, Athletics Canada's high performance director, told CBC Sports.
For the next five days, upwards of 1,650 able-bodied and Para athletes registered in senior and U20 categories will be competing at McLeod Athletic Park. Competition begins with the 10-kilometre and 20km race walk events.
"With the way the World Athletics qualifications work now, there are these points and bonus points. The national championships have the biggest number of bonus points and literally every country in the world is having its national championships this weekend. So there could be a lot of shifting around," Nathan said.
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Nathan assumed his role with Athletics Canada five years ago. In fact, his first event as high performance director was at the world championships in 2017. He says there are some parallels to then and now, including having some big name athletes missing from action at nationals.
"I feel like we've been a bit unlucky with some of these issues but in the end you make your own luck. I'd much rather these guys all there. Let's be honest. Nobody is playing games. They all want to be there," Nathan said.
"It's not great but I'm not losing sleep over it."
Nathan goes on to talk about those 2017 worlds — the first world championship after the 2016 Olympics. He went back and looked at the trials to see what happened in that post-Olympic year.
There were four individual medallists at those Rio Games for Canada. Only one of them would go on to compete at nationals and the world championships that following summer — that was Warner, who would end up placing fifth at worlds.
Notable Canadian absences
Now once again only one individual medallist from the four in Tokyo, bronze medal winning race walker Evan Dunfee, will be competing at nationals.
"I don't like the situation at all but I think just looking back there's a big hit from the Olympics," Nathan said.
"It's unfortunate and we'll do what we can for those athletes. But at this particular point I'm concentrating on the ones who are there and putting on a good show."
Nathan says De Grasse, Warner and Ahmed have all received medical exemptions from Athletics Canada's chief medical doctor and expects all three to compete at the world championships in July.
"It's my understanding that all three should be 100 per cent at worlds. They won't be held back in any sense," he said.
Nathan says he expects to send a team of about 50 athletes to the world championships. The way to qualify for the international meet is a tad complex.
"The World Athletics have this complicated entry system. You can qualify by entry standards or you can qualify by points. Entry standard is meant to be the high level. They're looking to have 50 per cent of the whole world championships qualify by that entry standard and 50 per cent by the points," Nathan said.
"As we sit right here we're expecting a team of about 50 athletes to go to worlds and 40 of those are through the relays or entry standards. We're really up there in the quality of our athletes."
Opportunity for new stars
Nathan says the momentum around the Canadian track and field team is a real thing and while the Olympic medallists who aren't competing will garner a lot of the attention, he says this week there are going to be battles playing out at a very high level and stars will emerge.
"I think what people should look for at nationals is the competition. Just how competitive our athletes are at the line. It isn't just with the medallist. They lead the charge. But we have talent across the board. Hopefully they'll step up at these nationals and perform again at the worlds," he said.
"There's an opportunity for some of the newer stars and people to really put their best foot forward and fill that gap."
Nathan credits the coaches and athletes across the country and beyond who have remained focused and resilient over the last number of years, especially considering how challenging it's been to train throughout the pandemic.
Now in the wake of all of that, Nathan wants to ensure Canadian athletes continue to make strides on the international stage, beginning at home this week during nationals.
"I'm incredibly proud of the athletes and their coaches," he said.
"They're trying to represent Canada and they're trying to do it at the highest level. It's a great team and a very strong team."
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