While many sports are treating next month's Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro as a development meet, Athletics Canada has opted send its A-team, populated with former world champions and international medalists, from hurdler Perdita Felicien to 400-metre star Tyler Christopher and rising heptathlon star Jessica Zelinka.
"The Pan American Games are one of the top four international competitions held every four years, head coach Les Gramantik, said in a statement. Exposure to other talents is too important for Canadians to let it slip by. For some it will be the biggest meet of the summer, but for many it's an important stepping stone on an Olympic journey.
"With the participation of over 50 countries including perennial powerhouses like the United States and the Caribbean countries, this event will allow us to evaluate the preparedness of our top athletes. With few exceptions, this group of athletes will represent Canada at the end of August at the World Championships in Osaka, which is the remaining big step towards Beijing."
Equestrian show jumping, like track and field, will also send a top-notch team, including Olympians and veterans such as Ian Millar of Perth, Ont., Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, Ont., and Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, Ont., heading to her third Pan Ams. Diving's Canadian superstars Alexandre Despatie and Blythe Hartley will headline that sport.
An elite athletes from a high profile sport such as those will likely be in focus today when the Canadian Olympic Committee names the flag bearer for the Pan American Games.
Swimming, on the other hand, is dispatching a young team to Rio. Most of Canada's best were involved in swimming's world championships in Melbourne, Australia in the spring when Swimming Canada held its Pan Am Games trials. Rowing Canada is sending a young crew of 15 to cover off eight men's and women's boats, none of them eights.
Track and field will bear some of the highest expectations. Athletics produced 10 medals at the last Pan American Games. The 30 runners jumpers and throwers in the 2007 edition of the team include two medalists from the 2003 Games, Achraf Tadili of Laval, Que., will look to defend his title over 800 metres while Felicien of Pickering, Ont., winner of the 2003 world outdoor hurdles crown over 100 metres and 2004 indoor title over 60 metres, will go to the line in Rio in the hopes of upgrading a silver Pan Am medal. Zelinka should be the class of the heptathlon, after finishing fourth in the important Goetzis meet, the unofficial world championships, setting a Canadian record. James Steacy, likewise, is a hot medal favourite in the hammer after pushing the Canadian record four times in the past year.
The Pan American track meet takes place in the second week of the Games, July 22-29.
Canada's Pan Am track and field team: Richard Adu-Bobie, Ottawa, 4x100m; ; Esther Akinsulie, Ottawa, 400 m; Dylan Armstrong, Kamloops, B.C., shot put; Brian Barnett, Edmonton, 200m, 4x400m; Tyler Christopher, Edmonton, 400m, 4x400m; Jared Connaughton, New Haven, PEI, 200m, 4x100m; Diane Cummins, Victoria, 800m; Carmen Douma-Hussar, Cambridge, Ont., 1500m; Dana Ellis-Buller, Kitchener, Ont., pole vault; Perdita Felicien,Pickering, Ont., 100 m hurdles; Nicole Forrester, Aurora, Ont., high jump; Sultana Frizell, Perth, Ont., hammer throw; Anson Henry, Pickering, Ont., 4x100m; Adam Kunkel, Paisley, Ont., 400m hurdles, 4x400m; Michael LeBlanc, Moncton, N.B., 100m, 4x100m; Jared MacLeod, Winnipeg, 110 m hurdles; Megan Metcalfe, Edmonton, 5,000 m; Carline Muir, Weston, Ont., 400 m; Keston Nelson, Toronto, 4 x 400 m; Emanuel Parris, Etobicoke, Ont., 100m, 4x100m; Adrienne Power, Halifax, 200m 400m; Scott Russell, Windsor, Ont., javelin; Crystal Smith, Creston, B.C., hammer throw; Dariusz Slowik, Richmond, B.C.; James Steacy, Lethbridge, Alta., hammer throw; Hilary Stellingwerff, Guelph, Ont., 1500m; Achraf Tadili, Laval, Que., 800m, 4x400m; Nathan Vadeboncoeur, Winnipeg, 4x400m; Angela Whyte, Edmonton, 100m hurdles; Jessica Zelinka, London, heptathlon. Head coach: Les Gramantik; Assistant coaches: Glenroy Gilbert; Derek Evely; Larry Steinke; Hugh Conlin; Team manager: Ingrid Ruys-George.
