Canadian Track & Field Trials on CBC Sports
The countdown to London continues on CBC Sports this weekend with live coverage of the 2012 Canadian Track and Field Trials presented by Timex Canada, where Olympic spots will be up for grabs in a host of events.
CBC’s coverage from Foothills Athletic Park in Calgary begins Friday with live streaming on cbcsports.ca from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET, followed on Saturday with two hours of live coverage on CBC-TV from 4 to 6 p.m. ET. Saturday’s coverage will also be streamed live online at cbcsports.ca.
"CBC Sports is proud of our commitment to Canada’s amateur athletes," said Trevor Pilling, head of programming, CBC Sports. "The depth of their dedication and determination is inspirational, and every Canadian will have a chance to follow their quest to represent our country in London over these two days."
Hundreds of Canada’s best athletes will compete in a range of track events including the 100-metre, 200m, 400m and 800m finals, men’s and women’s hurdles, and field events with high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin and hammer throw all being contested.
The most anticipated event is the women’s 100-metre hurdles, where five athletes — Perdita Felicien, Phylicia George, Nikkita Holder, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and Angela Whyte — are expected to contend for Canada’s three Olympic spots.
Other notable battles include Sam Effah and Justyn Warner in the men’s 100 metres, and world silver medallist Dylan Armstrong and Justin Rodhe in the men’s shot put.
Paralympic selection events will also be featured during the two days of coverage. Of note, Michelle Stilwell will compete in the women’s 200-metre para wheelchair, one of two events she set Paralympic records in when she won gold in Beijing in 2008.
The veteran team of Scott Russell (@SportsWkndScott), Mark Lee (@MLeeCBC) and Michael Smith will call all the action over the two days of coverage.
Canadians can support the athletes, and comment on the competition, through social media. Eligible athletes will have their Twitter handles printed on their race bibs while @cbcsports brings the conversations together along with full coverage at cbcsports.ca/trackandfield.