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Canada Track & Field and Cross Country News

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2013 Virgin London Marathon - World Greatest? Chris Kelsall Apr 20, 2013

The 2013 Virgin London Marathon is expected to be the most prolific marathon ever - at least at the top-end of the field, which includes five of the recent World Marathon Major winners. Here is a slick video promoting the event.

Dave Campbell Interview Chris Kelsall Apr 19, 2013

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Dave Campbell of Victoria, BC by way of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was an international level middle-distance athlete during the 1980s and 1990s. He competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, as well as the1986 and 1990 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland and Auckland, New Zealand, respectively. He won a bronze medal in Edinburgh in the 1500m distance. Campbell also won the Vancouver Sun Run in 1990 setting his 10 kilometre best time of 28:54.

Campbell began running seriously in high school for the Mount Doug Rams in Victoria and followed that up by competing in the CIAU (CIS) at the University of Victoria. He also won the 1500m national title three consecutive years.

Ruth Wanjiru Overcoming the Odds Paul Gains Apr 18, 2013

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by Paul Gains

A year ago Ruth Wanjiru turned up to the Ottawa Marathon in fine form with victory and the winner’s purse of $20,000 USD on her mind. But midway through the race she tripped and fell to the pavement injuring her knee. She struggled home a disappointed third.

The 31-year-old Kenyan returns to this IAAF Silver Label race May 26th ready to battle with a world-class field and to capture the title she believes should have been hers in 2012. She puts the catastrophe down as a valuable learning experience and just another of the struggles she has overcome in her journey through international sport.

Justin Rodhe Breaks the 21.00m Barrier Doug Clement Apr 18, 2013

From Douglas Clement/Harry Jerome Track Classic

Justin Rodhe

Justin Rodhe of Athletics Canada’s National throws Centre in Kamloops had his first competition yeterday at the Kansas Relays and came third with a personal best of 21.12. Rodhe has been training strong all year and looking forward to the competitive season. Ryan Whiting, Olympic athlete and the World Indoor Champion came first edging Reece Hoffa on his last throw with a toss of 21.65. Hoffa threw 21.60.

Two Explosions at B.A.A. Boston Marathon Finish Area Chris Kelsall Apr 15, 2013

Two explosions happened near the four hour mark at the finish line of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon on Memorial Day, Monday, April 15th. Several reports indicate that the explosion came from the media tent area from garbage cans. Reports of anywhere from a handful to up to fifty people may have been injured. Emergency crews are on the scene.

Martinson and Therrien Win Inaugural Bob Reid Magical Mile Chris Kelsall Apr 14, 2013

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The first annual Bob Reid Magical Mile, which boasted a total prize purse of $5400, took place in Victoria, BC at 12:00 PM on Sunday, April 13^th, under variable spring-like conditions. Runners of all abilities raced in a staggered start format over a schedule of nearly three hours. The event was the Pacific Northwest Championships for all age categories. “I was thrilled at the number of high performance athletes that came to the inaugural running of the (Prairie Inn) Harriers, Bob Reid Magical Mile,” said race director Bob Reid.

Merville 15k Race Video - top finishers Chris Kelsall Apr 13, 2013

Merville 15k race video - top finishers. The Merville 15k is the seventh race of the Frontrunners Vancouver Island Race Series.

When Sheldon thought he had a good idea Chris Kelsall Apr 11, 2013

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Sheldon, a co-worker, friend and running partner of mine thought he had a good idea once. I will share that good idea with you, but just indulge me for a moment.

He and I worked at a software company, in corporate sales, pitching to Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies that were scattered throughout the universe. Wal-Mart, Disney, NASA, CSIS, FBI, Lockheed Martin, Siemens, EA Sports, Microsoft, RCMP, Boeing (“Boing” as I referred to them, because of their recurring layoffs and re-hirings), name a company, we liaised with them. Sales was our job, running was our focus.

Cheryl Davies Interview - Merville 15k Chris Kelsall Apr 09, 2013

Post-race interview with Cheryl Davies of the Nanaimo Bastion Running Club. Davies won the Frontrunners Vancouver Island Race Series seventh event, the Merville 15k. The Merville 15k takes place in Merville, just north of Courtenay, BC on Vancouver Island.

Nick Walker Interview - Merville 15k Chris Kelsall Apr 08, 2013

Interview with Nick Walker, winner of the 2013 Merville 15k. The race is the seventh event in the Vancouver Island Race Series. Walker, a former University of Victoria Vike will be racing the BMO Vancouver Marathon.

Cameron Levins is ready to take the next step with Alberto Salazar Chris Kelsall Apr 06, 2013

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As has been widely reported, Cameron Levins has joined the Nike Oregon Project. After having won the NCAA 5,000m and 10,000m Championships while running for Division 1 Southern Utah University, then competing for Canada at the 2012 London Olympic Games in the 5,000m and 10,000m events, it appears that this is the next logical step for his running career.

Race Results Weekly reported that going-forward he will also be working with famed coach Alberto Salazar. Levins told Athletics Illustrated, “I knew very quickly that this is a program I wanted to be a part of, and that I could do very well training with such fantastic athletes.”https://can.milesplit.com/articles/101578-simon-bairu-interview

Win VIP Treatment - Details Chris Kelsall Apr 03, 2013

Win VIP Treatment at a Canadian Marathon - Photo Caption Contest

DETAILS:

Submit photos via email to info@athleticsillustrated.com. Get your friends and family to vote for your photo. Garner the most votes over the course of the contest and win VIP Treatment to a marathon in your region.

Photo Submission Deadline Day: April 30th, 2013 - 12:00 PM (noon) EST.

Scott MacDonald - Interview Chris Kelsall Apr 01, 2013

Athletics Canada announced on March 28^th 2013, that Nepean, Ontario’s Scott MacDonald is the new High Performance Director with Athletics Canada, the national governing body for the sport of athletics. The position was previously managed by Martin Goulet for sixteen years, until January 23^rd, 2013. MacDonald was hired from within, as he was the Director of National teams since 2005.

MacDonald competed for the University of Michigan under coach Ron Warhurst and studied American History and English Literature.

Skypin' with Natasha Fraser Chris Kelsall Mar 30, 2013

A casual Skype conversation with Natasha Fraser, who had just returned from the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Chris Winter Q&A - Post World Cross Country Championships Chris Kelsall Mar 29, 2013

Canadian steeplechaser Chris Winter, of Vancouver, BC competed in the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championshipswhich took place in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Sunday, the 24th of March. He finished in 33rd position and second Canadian, which helped Team Canada finish eighth overall. HIs finishing time was 34:15, exactly one and a half minutes off of first place and 19 seconds behind teammate Mohammed Ahmed of St. Catherines, Ontario. Ahmed finished 22nd overall.

Athletics Canada names High Performance Director Chris Kelsall Mar 28, 2013

Athletics Canada

OTTAWA - Athletics Canada announced today that Scott MacDonald is taking on the role of High Performance Director. MacDonald was promoted from within, having held the role of Director of National Team Programs since 2005.

Comox Valley Half Marathon Race Video Chris Kelsall Mar 27, 2013

Comox Valley Half Marathon showing top-Canadian middle-distance runner Geoff Martinson's first half-marathon race with a Canadian master's record attempt by Jimi Finlayson. The Comox Valley Half Marathon is race number eight of the BC Timex Road Race Series and number six of the Vancouver Island Race Series

Lanni Marchant On Fire for Toronto Yonge Street 10km Paul Gains Mar 27, 2013

By Paul Gains

Five weeks of high altitude training in Kenya appears to have done Lanni Marchant the world of good as she has been setting the Canadian road racing scene alight.

Last weekend the London, Ontario native smashed the nine year old course record for the Around The Bay 30km race by almost a minute and a half finishing in a time of 1:44:40. That outstanding performance was preceded by a new personal best half marathon time in Nashville (1:12:17).

Jim Finlayson interview - Post Comox Valley Half Marathon Chris Kelsall Mar 25, 2013

Post race interview with Victoria's Jim Finlayson, after his attempt to break the Canadian Half Marathon master's record.

Rachel Cliff - Q & A - Post - 2013 World Cross Country Championships Chris Kelsall Mar 25, 2013

Twenty-four-year-old Rachel Cliff of Vancouver, BC competed in the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where she helped Team Canada (senior women) to a top-10 finish. Teammate Natash Fraser finished one position in front of Cliff however, they recorded identical times. They finished in 24th and 25th position, respectively.

Catrin Jones Interview - Post Comox Valley Half Marathon Chris Kelsall Mar 25, 2013

Post race interview with Catrin Jones, winner of the Comox Valley Half Marathon and the Rift Valley Marathon in Kenya. She had returned to Victoria twelve hours earlier and decided to take in the event, which takes place nearly three hours north of Victoria, BC.

Speed River In Action Across The Globe Chris Kelsall Mar 24, 2013

Chris Moulton Speed River athletes were in action across the globe and on every type of surface this weekend. From the World Cross Country Championships in Poland, to North America’s oldest road race in Hamilton and a kickoff to the outdoor track season in North Carolina it was a whirlwind weekend featuring many great results.

Comox Valley Half Marathon Report Chris Kelsall Mar 24, 2013

The Comox Valley Marathon took place today, Sunday March 24^th, under cool, breezy conditions with light drizzle. Five hundred and twelve runners started the race at 11:00 AM in downtown Courtney, BC. The winners were Geoff Martinson and Catrin Jones, of Victoria, BC.

All four Canadian teams place in top 10 at today's World Cross Country Championships Chris Kelsall Mar 24, 2013

Emily Hooper - Athletics Canada

Veuillez cliquer ici pour voir la version franÃ§aise

Bydgoszcz, Poland - All four Canadian teams finished in the top ten at today's International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Cross Country Championships. The senior women's team placed eighth, the junior men and senior women placed ninth while the junior men's team placed tenth.

Jim Finlayson Attempts Canadian Record - Comox Valley Half Marathon Chris Kelsall Mar 23, 2013

Jim Finlayson of Victoria, BC will attempt to take down the Canadian master’s (40-plus) age-group record for the half-marathon, Sunday March 23^rd at the Comox Valley Half Marathon in Courtney, BC. The current record is held by Kingston, Ontario’s Steve Boyd, which stands at hour and six minutes and thirty-three seconds. The race starts at 11:00 AM PST.

Team Canada - Ready For IAAF World Cross Country Championships Chris Kelsall Mar 21, 2013

Athletics Canada has sent a talented and fit contingent of athletes to the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships that take place in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Sunday, March 24^th. This is the 40^th annual edition of the event that started in 1973 in Waregem, Belgium.

Martinson Prevails at the St. Patrick's Day 5k - On a New Fast Course Chris Kelsall Mar 20, 2013

Six days after Victoria's Geoff Martinson stepped off the plane in Sidney, BC, (feeling completely under the weather) to win a come-from-behind five kilometre race in 14 minutes and 32 seconds against second and third place finishers Ryan Brockerville of Vancouver and Clifford Childs of Victoria, he flew to Vancouver to pull off the trick again, at the popular St. Patrick’s Day 5k. He raced almost the same group however, this time he wasn’t feeling sick as a dog. Martinson won in 14:37.88 to Child’s 14:42.58. Third went to Nanaimo’s Forrest Simpson who finished in 14:47.65. “I was definitely feeling better this time around,” said Martinson.

Clifford Childs Interview - 2013 Synergy Health Bazan Bay 5k Chris Kelsall Mar 18, 2013

Interview with former University of Victoria Vike, Clifford Childs, who now represents the Running Room Athletic Club. Childs finished third overall at the 2013 Synergy Health Bazan Bay 5.

Synergy Health Management Bazan Bay 5k - Race video Chris Kelsall Mar 17, 2013

Video of the Synergy Health Bazan Bazan Bay 5k. This is the fifth race of the eight event Vancouver Island Race Series.

Kevin O'Connor - Interview - Synergy Health Bazan Bay 5k Chris Kelsall Mar 13, 2013

Post race interview with Kevin O'Connor, who smashed the BC 45-49 age-group record at the Bazan Bay 5k.