Posted: July 10, 2008

Athletics: Athletics Canada names NACAC U-23 team

Thursday, July 10, 2008 OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the 2008 NACAC Under-23 Championships team which will compete in Toluca, Mexico July 18-20. The Canadian track and field team won 15 medals (three silver, 12 bronze) at the last championships held in Santo Domingo in 2006.  Only two years removed from the NACAC U-23 program, three athletes who competed on the 2006 team were recently nominated to the Beijing Olympic team.  Jared Connaughton of New Haven, PEI and Mike Mason of Nanoose Bay, BC both came away with bronze medals while Pickering's Tabia Charles was 4th at the 2006 NACAC U-23 Championships.   Name Event Coach Hometown Alecia Beckford-Stewart Heptathlon Gary Winckler Brampton, ON Jillian Drouin High Jump / Heptathlon Joel Skinner Corunna, ON Nicole Edwards 1500m Mike McGuire Winnipeg, MB Sam Effah 100m/200m Branda Van Tighem Calgary, AB Carolyn Ellis 3000m Steeplechase Dave Scott-Thomas Lake Forest, BC Scott Emberley 1500m Dave Christiani Oakville, ON Alex Genest 3000m Steeplechase Pierre Thibodeau Lac-Aux-Sables, QC Elizabeth Gleadle Javelin throw Laurier Primeau Vancouver, BC Inaki Gomez 20km Racewalk Gerry Dragomir Vancouver, BC Reid Gustavson Decathlon Laurier Primeau Vancouver, BC Heather Hamilton Pole Vault Arye Rosenoer Mississauga, ON Adam Johnson 400m Craig Blackman Toronto, ON Jenna Martin 400m Erin Tucker Bridgewater, NS Bradley Millar Hammer throw Randy Millar Port Elgin, ON Amonn Nelson 200m Brenda Van Tighem Calgary, AB Lemlem Ogbasilassie 800m Franco Di Battista Montréal, QC Taylor Petrucha Pole Vault Rick & Susanne Petrucha Saskatoon, SK Gavin Smellie 200m Erik Jenkins & Mark Christie Etobicoke, ON Sean Steacy Hammer throw Larry Steinke Lethbridge, AB Geneviève Thibault 100m Kevin Tyler   Leah Vause Pole Vault Rick & Susanne Petrucha Saskatoon, SK Team Staff       Joanne Mortimore Chief Executive Officer Ottawa, ON   Claude Bérubé Head Coach Winnipeg, MB   Janet Neufeld Manager Westminster, BC   Richard Collier Throws Coach Richmond, BC   Glen Playfair Endurance Coach Edmonton, AB   Harry Stantsos Sprints Coach London, ON   Branda Van Tighem Jumps / Combined Events Coach Calgary, AB   Dr. Margaret Burghardt Physician     Carolyn Daubeny Massage Therapist Vancouver, BC   Brenda Scott-Thomas Physiotherapist Guelph, ON               Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest