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9 Albertans are Heading to Rio #TeamCanada #abtrack

TORONTO (July 11, 2016) – On Monday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Athletics Canada named the 65 athletes nominated to represent Team Canada in athletics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from August 5 to 21.

Some of the athletes selected include: Shawn Barber (pole vault, 2015 World Champion) and Derek Drouin (high jump, 2015 World Champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist) as well as 2015 IAAF World Championship individual medallists Andre De Grasse (sprints), Brianne Theisen-Eaton (heptathlon), Benjamin Thorne (race walk) and Damian Warner (decathlon). The team is led by Head Coach and Chief Technical Officer, Peter Eriksson.

The athletes earned their spots at the Canadian Championships and Selection Trials which took place July 7-10 at Foote Field in Edmonton, Alberta.

All athletics competitions will be held at the Olympic Stadium (Engenhão), except for the marathons which will take place in the area of Sambódromo and race walking events in Pontal.

At Rio 2016, Canada expects to field a team of approximately 315 athletes.

QUOTES

“This is the strongest and most well-rounded team I have ever been a part of. The team counts multiple world medallists and a talented roster who will challenge for the podium on the track, and in the field. My teammates and I are ready to compete for Canada in Rio.”

Brianne Theisen-Eaton, Rio 2016 athlete

“Following a very competitive Trials in Edmonton, we have nominated a versatile and focused group of athletes who will be ready to perform on-demand in Rio. The team is comprised of veterans who have already experienced international success, and up-and-coming athletes who are ready to take the next step.”

Peter Eriksson, Head Coach, Athletics Canada

“The recent results of these nominees is very good reason for Canada to be excited about track and field. This group continues to grow and I’m excited to see what they will bring to Rio. I wish all of you the absolute best in your final preparations as you set your sights for success.”

Curt Harnett, Rio 2016 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“As excitement grows for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, I know our track and field athletes are ready to make an extra effort to push for the podium against the world’s best. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I commend the work done by Athletics Canada to prepare our athletes named today to Team Canada. We’re all behind you.”

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

The athletics team that will represent Canada at Rio 2016 includes:

Athletes:

First

Last

Hometown

Event

Kelsie

Ahbe

Toronto, ON

Pole Vault

Mohammed

Ahmed

St. Catharines, ON

5000m, 10,000m

Mobolade

Ajomale

Richmond Hill, ON

4x100m Relay

Shawn

Barber

Toronto, ON

Pole Vault

Maria

Bernard

Calgary, AB

3000m Steeplechase

Mathieu

Bilodeau

Calgary, AB

50km Race Walk

Khamica

Bingham

Brampton, ON

4x100m Relay

Melissa

Bishop

Eganville, ON

800m

Nathan

Brannen

Cambridge, ON

1500m

Lucas

Bruchet

Vancouver, BC

5000m

Aaron

Brown

Toronto, ON

100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay

Alicia

Brown

Ottawa, ON

400m, 4x400m Relay

Johnathan

Cabral

Péribonka, QC

110m Hurdles

Chanice

Chase

Toronto, ON

400m Hurdles, 4x400m Relay

Kendra

Clarke

Edmonton, AB

400m, 4x400m Relay

Reid

Coolsaet

Hamilton, ON

Marathon

Brittany

Crew

East York, ON

Shot Put

Andre

De Grasse

Markham, ON

100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay

Derek

Drouin

Corunna, ON

High Jump

Krista

DuChene

Brantford, ON

Marathon

Evan

Dunfee

Richmond, BC

20km & 50km Race Walk

Crystal

Emmanuel

East York, ON

100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay

Phylicia

George

Markham, ON

100m Hurdles, 4x100m Relay

Eric

Gillis

Antigonish, NS

Marathon

Elizabeth

Gleadle

Vancouver, BC

Javelin

Inaki

Gomez

Vancouver, BC

20km Racewalk

Akeem

Haynes

Calgary, AB

100m, 4x100m Relay

Nikkita

Holder

Pickering, ON

100m Hurdles

Matthew

Hughes

Oshawa, ON

3000m Steeplechase

Kimberly

Hyacinthe

Terrebonne, QC

200m, 4x100m Relay

Farah

Jacques

Gatineau, QC

4x100m Relay

Sekou

Kaba

Ottawa, ON

110m Hurdles

Marissa

Kurtimah

Guelph, ON

4x100m Relay

Genevieve

Lalonde

Moncton, NB

3000m Steeplechase

Oluwasegun

Makinde

Ottawa, ON

4x100m Relay

Lanni

Marchant

London, ON

10,000m, Marathon

Mike

Mason

Nanoose Bay, BC

High Jump

Brandon

McBride

Windsor, ON

800m

Taylor

Milne

Callander, ON

3000m Steeplechase

Noelle

Montcalm

Belle River, ON

400m Hurdles

Carline

Muir

Edmonton, AB

400m, 4x400m Relay

Tim

Nedow

Brockville, ON

Shot Put

Christabel

Nettey

Surrey, BC

Long Jump

Annika

Newell

Scarborough, ON

Pole Vault

Alysha

Newman

London, ON

Pole Vault

Jessica

O’Connell

Calgary, AB

5000m

Charles

Philibert-Thiboutot

Quebec City, QC

1500m

Micha

Powell

Montreal,QC

4x400m Relay

Brendon

Rodney

Brampton, ON

200m, 4x100m Relay

Anthony

Romaniw

Hamilton, ON

800m

Andrea

Seccafien

Guelph, ON

5000m

Nicole

Sifuentes

Winnipeg, MB

1500m

Gabriela

Stafford

Toronto, ON

1500m

Heather

Steacy

Lethbridge, AB

Hammer Throw

Hilary

Stellingwerff

Victoria, BC

1500m

Taryn

Suttie

Hanley, SK

Shot Put

Erin

Teschuk

Winnipeg, MB

3000m Steeplechase

Brianne

Theisen-Eaton

Humboldt, SK

Heptathlon

Benjamin

Thorne

Kitimat, BC

20km Race Walk

Alyxandria

Treasure

Prince George, BC

High Jump

Damian

Warner

London, ON

Decathlon

Sage

Watson

Medicine Hat, AB

400m Hurdles, 4x400m Relay

Angela

Whyte

Edmonton, AB

100m Hurdles

Chris

Winter

North Vancouver, BC

3000m Steeplechase

Natasha

Wodak

Vancouver, BC

10,000m

Coaches and Support Team

Position

First

Last

Hometown

Sprints/Hurdles

Charles

Allen

Brampton, ON

Team Leader

Peter

Eriksson

Ottawa, ON

Sprints/Relays

Glenroy

Gilbert

Ottawa, ON

Endurance

Heather

Hennigar

Halifax, NS

Jumps

Jeff

Huntoon

Toronto, ON

Team Manager

Jared

MacLeod

Winnipeg, MB

Sprints/Relays

Carla

Nicholls

Regina, SK

Throws

Richard

Parkinson

Toronto, ON

Technical Manager

Ingrid

Ruys

Victoria, BC

Assistant Manager

Jessica

Scarlato

Richmond Hill, ON

Endurance

Dave

Scott-Thomas

Guelph, ON

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Rio 2016 Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.

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For more information:

Athletics Canada

Jim McDannald, Communications Coordinator

Tel: 613-260-5580 x3340
Email: [email protected]

Canadian Olympic Committee

Press Office

Cherry Ye, Program Manager, Media Relations

Tel: 416-324-4123 / Cell: 416-427-4341

Email: [email protected]

Ricky Landry, Manager, Corporate Communications

Tel: 514-861-3696 / Cell: 514-229-4833

Email: [email protected]