Posted: August 23, 2007

Athletics: Canadians ready to shine on world stage in Osaka

Osaka, Japan – The 11th IAAF World Track and Field Championships begin with a bang on Saturday August 25 in Osaka, Japan with five Canadians in action on opening day. The 11th Worlds feature a record 203 participating countries. Dylan Armstrong from Kamloops, BC will be the first Canadian to get underway in the shot put. Armstrong recently won a gold medal at the Pan American Games. Kevin Sullivan from Brantford, ON will line up in the 1500 metres. Anson Henry from Pickering, ON takes part in the 100 metre dash. Vancouver BC’s Diane Cummins who also won gold at the Pan American Games will take part in the 800 metres. Another golden boy from the Pan Am Games - Jim Steacy from Lethbridge, AB competes in the hammer throw and Adam Kunkel from Paisley, ON begins his quest for the podium in the 400 metre hurdles. Kunkel set a Canadian record at the Pan Am Games on his way to the gold medal and owns the worlds 5th fastest time this season. Canadians can count on experience Tyler Christopher from Edmonton was the bronze medalist in the 400 metres at the last World Championships in 2005… Perdita Felicien from Pickering, ON was the world champion in the 100 metre hurdles in 2003… Angela Whyte from Edmonton was sixth in the 100 metre hurdles at the 2004 Olympic Games… Tim Berrett from Edmonton will be competing in a record ninth World Championships… Brian Barnett of Edmonton is the silver medalist in the 200 metres from the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships… The men’s 4x100 metre relay team won silver at the 2007 Pan American Games and bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Petitclerc and Roy to compete on September 1 Chantal Petitclerc from Montréal and Diane Roy from Hatley, QC will both take part in the 1500 metres wheelchair demonstration event. They both qualified for the 1500 wheelchair metre final in Windsor, ON at the Boiling Point International Track Classic held in early July. Worlds on CBC August 25th > 15:00 to 18:00 August 26th >15:00 to 17:00 plus late night repeat September 1st > 12:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 18:00 September 2nd > 24:30 to 02:30 All times EST Keep track of the team in Japan at: Athletics/ca. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest