Canada Track & Field and Cross Country News
Fraser Smashes Record - Martinson Wins Handily
Jan 13, 2013
© Copyright - 2013 - Athletics Illustrated
Natasha Fraser of Port Moody, BC demolished the field at the 34th Pioneer 8k road race today, finishing in the time of twenty-five minutes and 
twenty-eight seconds. Fraser set a new course record and finished sixth overall and nearly three minutes faster than the next competitor. The second and third place women were Sabrina Wilkie and Catrin Jones finishing in 28:15 and 28:26, respectively. “I even surprised myself. I looked at my split at 5k and swore out loud, I was way faster than I expected,” said an elated Fraser. She doubled down on the prize money as she earned $1000 for breaking the course record and $300 for the win. The record was previously held my Debbie Scott (Bowker) who ran 26:08 on a different, but slightly faster course in 1986.
Former NCAA Champ Sheila Reid Adjusting to Pro Running
Jan 09, 2013
Canadian Olympian to train in Philly under former mile great Marcus O'Sullivan. (via Runner's World)
Dick Pound - Interview
Jan 09, 2013
© Copyright - 2013 - Athletics Illustrated
Richard (Dick) Pound is the former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It was his brainchild to put the agency together and he was responsible for the code of ethics and the governing structure that are currently in place. He is also a former vice-president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and currently serves on several boards and committees for WADA and the IOC. Pound is a partner with the law firm Stikeman Elliot, specialising in tax law.
Starting in 1978, Pound began to revolutionise the Olympic movement by leveraging very large and lucrative television and sponsorship agreements that he was instrumental in creating; to re-shape the IOC into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
As an athlete he won several swim medals during the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games after having competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics.
IAAF: Drouin’s breakthrough is no fluke
Jan 08, 2013
Drouin’s breakthrough is no fluke (via iaaf.org)
Canadians Coaching Successfully in the NCAA
Jan 04, 2013
© Copyright - 2013 - Athletics Illustrated
According to achievements by their respective teams, Canadian coaches are beginning to produce winners in the sport of cross-country and track and field within the first division of the NCAA. Perhaps Canada's athletics coaching development program is succeeding in engendering the culture of effective leadership. For example, during the tremendously competitive 2011 NCAA Track and Field Championships, where 31 teams make it to the big meet out of 315 teams nationwide, at least twenty percent are coached by Canadians. Some of those coaches are, Peter Watson, the men's head cross-country and assistant track and field coach for the University of Virginia Cavaliers, Chris Rengifo with Eastern Kentucky University men's team, women's head coach Karen Harvey at Florida State University, Ricardo Santos coach of Iona College's women's team, Sean Cleary coach of the University of West Virginia women's team and Andrea Grove-McDonough who coaches the women at the University of Connecticut.
Rachel Cliff - Interview
Dec 28, 2012
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- Rachel Cliff at Canadian Championships
© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated
Twenty-four year old Rachel Cliff of Vancouver, BC is a runner who competes primarily in the 1500m and 5000m distance events. She is the 2011 Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) national champion in both the 1500m and 3000m distances. Cliff competed for the University of Guelph Gryphons.
Jessica Zelinka - Interview
Dec 23, 2012
© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated
Thirty-one-year old Canadian Olympian Jessica Zelinka, is currently ranked seventh in the world in both the 100m hurdles as well as the heptathlon. 
Cameron Levins and Kimberlyn Duncan - The Bowerman Winners
Dec 20, 2012
© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated
Black Creek, British Columbia’s Cameron Levins and Katey, Texas native Kimberlyn Duncan are the 2012 recipients of the The Bowerman. The 2012 edition was the fourth annual presentation of the award and were handed out Wednesday, December 19th to the best male and female track and field athletes in the NCAA.
Jessica Zelinka Dominates 2012 Athletics Canada Annual Awards
Dec 19, 2012
Athletics Canada
OTTAWA - Athletics Canada announced today its 2012 annual award winners with Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont., getting the nod in three categories. Zelinka was chosen as outstanding athlete of the year, as most outstanding athlete in track events and as the combined events athlete of the year. The winners are chosen by Athletics Canada's Awards Committee from the nominee pool put forward by the athletics community. The award recipients will be honoured at the 2013 Canadian Championships in Moncton, N.B., which take place June 20-23.
Tyler Smith - Interview
Dec 18, 2012
Eighteen-year old Tyler Smith of Wetaskiwin, Alberta is one of Canada’s top 800m runners and he still attends high school.
He owns a personal best time of 1:47.96, which he accomplished in 2012, as a 17-year-old, Grade 11 student.
Smith currently competes for Wetaskiwin Composite High School Track & Field and Cross Country team.
Michelle Kinsella - Interview
Dec 17, 2012
© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated
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- Michelle Kinsella
Twenty-one year old Michelle Kinsella (formerly Theophille), of Whitby, Ontario competes in the first division of the NCAA for the University of Louisville Cardinals. Kinsella specializes in the high jump. She has won All-American honours multiple times and won the Hoosier Open on December 7th, the first meet of the season. She cleared her first three attempts as she jumped over the bar at 1.83m and then set the school record of 1.85m in her final attempt.
Steve Magness - Interview Magness Report #3
Dec 13, 2012
© Copyright – 2012 – Athletics Illustrated
Steve Magness writes science-based running and training articles primarily for the website The Science of Running.
Magness is an assistant coach with Sara Hall at the University of Houston, his alma mater. Previously he was an assistant coach at Nike Oregon Project, leading up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Prediction: Ryan Hall to achieve new personal best under Canova
Dec 12, 2012
© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated
While distance running fans await for results and discuss the merits of the joining of America's current, fastest marathon runner and the World's currently most successful distance coach, I am going to have a little fun predicting the outcome.
Athletes Chimp in to Help Themselves
Dec 11, 2012
© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated
Amateur Sport in Canada remains largely underfunded, for example in the sport of athletics there are two funding levels available by the National Sporting Organization (NSO) Athletics Canada. Athletics Canada offers athletes either $900 per month for developing athletes who: 'have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the National Training Centre (NTC) that they are on a path to earn a Senior card in the future', or $1500 per month should an athlete who 'finished in the Top 16 and top ½ of the field at the IAAF Senior World Championships or the Olympic Games (for individual events) or in the Top 8 and top ½ of the field at the IAAF Senior World Championships or the Olympic Games (for relays)'.
Kate Harrison - Interview
Dec 09, 2012
© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated
Twenty-three year old Kate Harrison of Toronto, Ontario, graduated from NCAA Division 1 West Virginia University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Exercise Physiology. She competed as a U of WV Mountaineer for three years after having red-shirted the 2008 indoor and outdoor seasons. Harrison was named first team All-American after placing second at the 2011 NCAA Championships. She finished first at the NCAA East Regional in the 10000m earning a personal-best time of 33:48.64.
