National Track League Begins Saturday

June 10, 2014

Athletics Canada

The third edition of the National Track League (NTL) begins Saturday June 14 at the Aileen Meagher International Track Classic. The Aileen Meagher takes place at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, N.S., catch all the action live beginning at 5 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local).

The NTL prize structure has been revamped with $100,000 available to Canadian and international athletes. Series prize money is bolstered with each meet’s individual prize purse.

Event Previews

Leading the way in the women’s 100-metre hurdles are two familiar names in Phylicia George (13.12) and Nikkita Holder. George and Holder were teammates on the 2012 Olympic Games team. Holder hasn’t raced since taking time off to start a family; her last race was August 26, 2012 in Slovakia at the Memorial Zdenka Hrbacka. Lavonne Idlette of the Dominican Republic should prove to be the leading international competitor for George and Holder.

The women’s 100-metres is led by George (11.55), along with Shai-Anne Davis (11.45), Crystal Emmanuel (11.47) and Kimberley Hyacinthe (11.41). Davis, Emmanuel and Hyacinthe combined to set a new Canadian record in the 4×100-metres at the 2013 World Championships. All four women will represent Canada this summer at the Commonwealth Games. Davis was second last year behind Cleo VanBuren of the United States.

The men’s 100-metres features NCAA standout Andre De Grasse who leads the way with a seasonal best of 10.15 seconds. National team veterans Jared Connaughton

(10.23), Gavin Smellie (10.20) and Justyn Warner (10.37) ensure a deep field. De Grasse, Smellie and Connaughton will also race in Scotland at the Commonwealth Games. The leading international competitor in this event is Jason Rogers of St. Kitts. He took the win last year edging Warner and Smellie in a photo finish.

De Grasse (20.38) and Smellie (20.45) will also race in the men’s 200-metres, along with Dontae Richards-Kwok (20.81) and Segun Makinde (20.51). All four men are on the Commonwealth Games team.

Commonwealth Games 4×400-metres teammates Fawn Dorr and Carline Muir will go head to head in the 400-metres in Halifax. Muir enters the race as the top ranked female quarter miler with a season’s best of 52.76. Patricia Hall of Jamaica enters the race with a seasonal best of 52.01.

Three members of Canada’s IAAF World Relays team will line up in the men’s 400-metres. Daundre Barnaby (46.51), Tremaine Harris (48.58) and Philip Osei (47.52). Barnaby and Osei will represent Canada in Scotland. Latoy Williams (45.58) of the Bahamas will provide stiff competition.

Nathan Brannen and Taylor Milne headline a deep field in the Timex men’s 1500-metres. Milne qualified for the Commonwealth Games in the 3000-metres steeplechase. Milne took the win in this event last year. Americans Kyle Merber (3:35.59), Ford Palmer (3:38.58) and Liam Boylan (3:40.30) will ensure a tough race.

Anthony Romaniw will look to defend his title in the men’s 800-metres. Last season he took the win at the Aileen Meagher edging Halifax’s own Geoff Harris.

Tim Nedow leads the way in the men’s shot put. Nedow, who represented Canada at the 2013 World Championships, leads the Canadian top list with a performance of 20.98-metres.

The Aileen Meagher will also feature a pair of wheelchair races (100 and 200-metres) as well as a seated shot put. 2013 International Paralympic Committee World Championships medallist Pamela Le Jean will compete in the seated shot put

Aileen Meagher Prize Purse for eligible events

1^st – $800

2^nd – $300

3^rd – $200

NTL2014 Schedule of Events