Athletics Canada names 35 athletes to NACAC under-23 Championships

Athletics Canada

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada named 35 athletes today who will compete in Kamloops, British-Columbia at the 2014 NACAC under-23 Championships August 8 to 10. The team includes nine athletes who hail from British-Columbia and will have the opportunity to compete in an international event in their home province.

Carla Nicholls, head coach for the Canadian NACAC under-23 team, “We have selected our best eligible athletes to compete against one of the strongest regions within the IAAF. The objective is that athletes compete at their very best while challenging for a place on the podium. The experience is intended to cultivate sustainable high performance success and prepare athletes for future international events, including World Championships and Olympic Games.” Nicholls adds, “I can’t think of a better backdrop then Kamloops, B.C., to showcase our home team.”

Headlining the team is Benjamin Thorne of Kitimat, B.C., earlier this season he was part of the Race Walk World Cup team that placed fourth. Last summer he represented Canada at the World Championships placing 20^th in the 20-kilometres race walk. Ashlea Maddex of St. Pascal-Boylan, Ont., won bronze at the 2012 NACAC under-23 Championships; she will be on the hunt for a podium finish on home soil.

The team includes two athletes who won national titles at the Canadian Track and Field Championships last weekend in Moncton, N.B. Raymond Dykstra of Grimsby, Ont., who won gold in the men’s javelin and Alyxandria Treasure of Prince George, B.C., who won the national title in the women’s high jump.

At the last edition of this Championship, in 2012, Canada won 18 medals: 4 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze.

2014 NACAC U23 Team

For more information on the Championships visit: http://www.nacac2014.com/.