Jamaican Sprinters Yohan Blake and Veronica Campbell-Brown to Headline the Edmonton International Tr

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Jamaican Yohan Blake, the youngest 100m World Champion in history, has confirmed his return to the city for the Edmonton International Track Classic on June 29 at Foote Field. Fellow Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown will make her Canadian debut at the event. Both athletes are coming off successful London Olympic Games performances where Blake won silver in the 100m and 200m sprints and gold in the 4x100m relay (world record), and Campbell-Brown took bronze in the 100m sprint and silver in the 4x100m relay. She is the reigning World Champion in the 200m.

"I am very happy to be coming back to Edmonton and am looking forward to breaking the 10 second barrier in front of some of the best fans in the world," Blake said. Blake won the 100m in Edmonton’s 2012 event, with a time of 10.05 seconds. Athletics Alberta hopes he can break 10 seconds, it would be the first time anyone achieves this feat on Canadian soil since the 2001 Edmonton IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

"We’re absolutely thrilled to have the Beast [Yohan Blake] come back and compete here in Edmonton,” said Peter Ogilvie, Meet Director and Executive Director of Athletics Alberta. “And we’re privileged to feature the Queen of Jamaican sprinting, Veronica Campbell-Brown, who is making her first appearance ever in Canada.”

“I am thoroughly excited at the prospect of competing in Canada for the first time, and in Edmonton—home of the 2001 World Championships—to boot,” said Campbell-Brown. “I have monitored the results from previous Canadian summer circuits, and I am keen to compete in front of supportive fans!”

“Our commitment is to provide our spectators with world-class entertainment on and off the track,” says Ogilvie, “and we are extremely pleased to feature Bruce Buffer [UFC announcer] at the event this year. We know this year’s event is going to be something Edmontonians will remember for a long, long time."

Always introduced as the “Veteran Voice of the Octagon” on UFC broadcasts, Buffer is the official Octagon announcer, famed for his signature “Buffer 180” move in the octagon and for his trademark line, “IT’S TIME!!".
Blake and Campbell-Brown, along with many other World Champions and Olympic medalists, will meet at Foote Field Stadium on June 29 for the third of five stops in the 2013 National Track League series. The Edmonton International Track Classic gives athletes an opportunity to compete in Canada against some of the best in the world.

For Canadians, the Edmonton International Track Classic is an opportunity to witness and support Canadian athletes in their quest for success at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, Russia August 10-18. The Edmonton International Track Classic is part of the Edmonton International Athletics Festival, June 22-29, with events held at locations throughout Edmonton.

Athletics Alberta is the provincial organizing body for track and field, cross country and road running, and is a branch of Athletics Canada. Athletics Alberta has 2,000 members and offers programs for 75,000 non-affiliated members. Athletics is a dynamic sport for all ages and abilities. Through various programs and activities, Athletics Alberta brings the joy and benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle to Albertans.
Tickets are on sale now, and available through http://athleticsfestival.com/. For more information on the Edmonton International Track Classic and the Edmonton International Athletics Festival, visit http://athleticsfestival.com/. Follow us: www.facebook.com/AthleticsAlberta and on Twitter @athleticsab.