Member Association News: Canada Announces Athletics Team for Bangkok
July 27th, 2007
Coolsaet in action at the 2005 Universiade in Izmir
A delegation of 21 athletes, 14 of whom compete within the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) network, will represent Canada at the 2007 Summer Universiade which will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from August 8th to 18th. The official announcement was made Wednesday July 25th by CIS. Athletics events, which will be highlighted over six days, from Thursday, August 9th to Tuesday, August 14th, will take place at the Bangkok Thammasat Stadium. Michael Mason (Nanoose Bay, BC), 2004 Gold medal winner in the high jump at the Junior World Championships, and Kelsie Hendry (Saskatoon, Sask.) will be among the most serious contenders from the Canadian delegation. A pole vault Gold medal winner at the Francophone Games in 2005, Hendry also competed in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. “We are counting on quite a few internationally experienced athletes within our team. Many are either CIS or NCAA medalists”, commented Claude Bérubé, head coach of the Canadian team. “However, evaluating our chances is always a tricky endeavor, as no worldwide seeding exists for university athletes.” According to Bérubé, who acts as permanent head coach of the Manitoba Bisons’ university team, the level of competition should be quite impressive. “Some athletes will be using this competition as a preparation for the World Championships in Osaka, which will be held in late August.” In Thailand, Bérubé will be assisted by Carla Nicholls (University of Regina), Brett Lumley (University of Windsor), and Richard Crevier (Université de Sherbrooke). Carol McDermid will act as Manager. The Canadian delegation will fly to Bangkok on Thursday, August 1st. Athletes will therefore have close to seven days to prepare for the actual competition, which will begin on Thursday, August 9th. At the 2005 Universiade, in Izmir, Turkey, Canada had obtained two silver medals (Reid Coolsaet in the 5,000m and Jared MacLeod, 110m hurdle). The best Canadian results in Athletics at a Universiade go back to 1983, in Edmonton, when Canada had won as many as 13 medals. That was also the last time Canada won a gold medal. At the time, Guillaume Leblanc and David Steen had won the 20 km walk and the decathlon, respectively.
Athletics Roster
Women - Megan Brown (Toronto, Ont., 1500m, University of Toronto, Physical Education) Best time in 2007: 4:16.06 (June 6) - Jillian Drouin (Corunna, Ont., High jump, Syracuse University, Health & Exercise Science) Best performance in 2007: 1.87m (June) - Marie-Eve Dugas (Laval, QC, 100m hurdle, UQAM, Fashion management and design) Best time in 2007: 13.67 (July 13, Canadian Championship) - Kelsie Hendry (Saskatoon, Sask., Pole vault, University of Saskatchewan, Education) Best performance in 2007: 4.31m (July 14, Canadian Championship) - Julia Howard (St. John's, NF, 800m, Simon Fraser University, Psychology) Best time in 2007: 2:03.61 (June 19) - Rebecca Johnstone (Bowen Island, BC, 800m, Simon Fraser University, Kinesiology) Best time in 2007: 2:02.25 (May 5) - Michelle Moody (Newmarket, Ont., High jump, University of Guelph, Molecular Biology & Genetics) Best performance in 2007: 1.80m (July 1) - Elizabeth Wightman (Unionville, Ont., 5000m, University of Toronto, Physical Therapy) Best time in 2007: 16:17.08 (April 13) - Krista Woodward (New Westminster, BC, Javelin, University of Georgia, Forestry) Best performance in 2007: 54.89m (July 14, Canadian Championship) Men - Jamie Adjetey-Nelson (Windsor, Ont., Decathlon / Long jump, University of Windsor, Sociology) Best performance in decathlon in 2007: 7.20m (July 13, Canadian Championship) Best performance in long jump in 2007: 7,460pts (June 6) - John Carle (St-Bruno, QC, 800m, Université de Sherbrooke, Multi-Disciplinary Program) Best time in 2007: 1:48.13 (June 30) - Andrew Dargie (Calgary, AB, 400m, Stanford University) Best time in 2007: 40.78 (June 10) - Geoff Kerr (Calgary, AB, 5000m, University of Calgary, Business) Best time in 2007: 13:57.03 (May 6) - Matthew Lincoln (Scarborough, Ont., 1500m, Pennsylvania State University, Kinesiology) Best time in 2007: 3:41.46 (June 6) - Andrew Maloney (Thornhill, Ont., 800m, University of Tulsa, Law) Best time in 2007: 1:48.93 (July 15, Canadian Championship) - Geoff Martinson (Prince George, BC, 1500m, University of Victoria, Biochemistry) Best time in 2007: 3:44.26 (May 26) - Michael Mason (Nanoose Bay, BC, High jump, University of British Columbia, Human Kinetics) Best performance in 2007: 2.27m (July 14, Canadian Championship) - Gavin Smellie (Toronto, Ont., 200m, Western Kentucky University, Business) Best time in 2007: 20.75 (July 15, Canadian Championship) - Derek Watkins (Ottawa, Ont., High jump, Triple jump, University of Windsor, Sport Management) Best performance in high jump in 2007: 2.18m (July 14, Canadian Championship) - Neville Wright (Edmonton, AB, 100m, University of Alberta, Activity & Nutrition) Best time in 2007: 10.30 (May 19) - Jason Wurster (Stevensville, Ont., Pole vault, University of Toronto, Geography) Best performance in 2007: 5.36m (July 15, Canadian Championship) Coaching Staff Head Coach: Claude Bérubé (University of Manitoba) Assistant: Carla Nicholls (University of Regina) Assistant: Brett Lumley (University of Windsor) Assistant: Richard Crevier (Université de Sherbrooke) Manager: Carol McDermid
