Athletics Canada
Moncton – The official opening of the 2014 Canadian Track and Field Championships took place in Moncton, N.B., today with the help of a few notable Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ont., Aaron Brown of Toronto, Ont., Derek Drouin of Corunna, Ont., Alexandre Dupont of Clarenceville, Que., and Brianne Theisen-Eaton of Humboldt, Sask., were on hand at City Hall to help launch the 2014 national championship.
All track and field athletes representing Canada at the upcoming Commonwealth Games will compete in Moncton in the championship, for most this will be the last time they compete on home soil before making the trip to Glasgow, Scotland. Competition begins tomorrow, June 27, at Moncton Stadium on the campus of the Université de Moncton, and runs through Sunday June 29. The event also serves as selection trials for Canada’s NACAC under-23 Championships team. The 2014 NACAC under-23 Championships take place in August, in Kamloops, British-Columbia.
Stars help launch #Moncton2014
The stars were on display today at City Hall in Moncton to help kick-off the 2014 national championship. Collectively Melissa Bishop, Aaron Brown, Derek Drouin, Alexandre Dupont and Brianne Theisen-Eaton count four Olympic and one Paralympic Games appearance. They have four World Championship medals and one Olympic medal, four of them are Canadian Record holders and all five are defending Canadian Champions.
Melissa Bishop competed in the 800-metres at the 2012 Olympic Games, is the reigning Canadian Champion, and is currently featured in a Nike ad campaign alongside Britain’s Mo Farah.
Aaron Brown just completed his career in the NCAA with the USC Trojans. He recently set a new Canadian record in the 200-metres and is a member of Canada’s 4×100-metres relay team that took bronze at the 2013 World Championships.
Derek Drouin, 2012 Olympic Games and 2013 World Championships bronze medallist in the high jump, recently improved his Canadian record to 2.40-metres. He is one of only ten men in athletics history to surpass the magical barrier.
Alexandre Dupont competed in four events at the 2012 Paralympic Games and at the 2013 IPC World Championships. He finished on the podium in six different events at the 2013 Canadian Championships winning gold in both the T54 wheelchair 800 and 5000-metres. He is a member of the Canadian record setting 4×400-metres team.
Brianne Theisen-Eaton broke the Canadian heptathlon record at the 2014 Hypo-Meeting in Götzis, Austria. She won silver at both the 2013 outdoor World Championships and the 2014 indoor World Championships. With a gruelling seven-event two-day heptathlon coming in one month’s time, Brianne will only compete in select events at the Canadian Championships.
Championship streamed LIVE by Bell Aliant, presented by Timex
Athletics Canada and Bell Aliant have partnered to offer the most comprehensive live streaming coverage of the Canadian Championships. The stream, presented by Timex, will include all championship events, including special off-site events such as the downtown “Walk on the Wild Side” and “Shot in the Dark”. Sport Ambassador and two-time Olympian Perdita Felicien will provide colour commentary, while Atlantic Canada’s own amateur sport broadcast legend Bill McLean calls the play by play.
Called to the Hall
This evening at a special gala event, Athletics Canada’s Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will officially be inducted, and 2013 Annual Award Winners will be recognized. The ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Delta Beauséjour. The Class of 2014 includes Graeme Fell, Marcel Jobin, Lynn Kanuka, Bruce Kidd, Jason Tunks, Paul Poce, John Loaring, Harold Nicholson, Father John Redmond, Ken Porter and LeRoy Washburn.
For a complete event schedule, live results, ticket information and all other championship information please visit www.moncton2014.ca.
