Runner's & Triathlete's Web  Athletics: The race is on - Canadian Championships kick off in Toronto

TORONTO - The 2010 Canadian Championships kick off today in Toronto with a press conference featuring the hurdling duo of Perdita Felicien and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep at the flagship Nike Store on Bloor. Pickering's Perdita Felicien and Whitby's Priscilla Lopes Schliep will face off for the 31st time in their illustrious careers; Felicien currently has a slight head to head lead over Lopes-Schliep by a 16-14 count.

Championships more than P vs. P

Calgary, AB's Jessica Zelinka will battle it out in 7 events over the course of 2 days. Zelinka is a 4-time Canadian Champion (2001, 04, 05, 08) taking the 2009 season off to have a baby.
In the men's shot put Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, BC enters as a 5-time Canadian Champion (2005-2009). Armstrong is also the Canadian record holder with a mark of 21.58m set earlier this season.
Sultana Frizell of Perth, ON has improved the Canadian women's hammer throw record in back to back years with a current personal and seasonal best mark of 72.74m.
Simon Bairu of Regina, SK will tear up the track in the 10000m. Bairu broke the Canadian record in this event earlier this season; the mark had stood for 9-years.
In the wheelchair 1500m Josh Cassidy of Oakville, ON will look to continue his early season success; Cassidy has already captured the 2010 Canadian Marathon title and the prestigious London Marathon title.

Corporate Relay presented by KPMG

On Thursday July 29th at 4:00pm runners will take to their marks as part of the 4x100m Corporate Relay Challenge. Anchoring each relay team are pop culture celebrities, track and field alumni as well as various Olympians, sporting icons and stars.

Championships Live on CBC

On Saturday from 4:00pm-6:00pm ET the Championships will be live coast to coast on CBC as well as streaming on cbcsports.ca; please check local listings.

The Canadian Championships serve as the selection trials for both the 2010 Commonwealth Games as well as for the 2011 International Paralympic Committees (IPC) World Championships.

For all of the latest information on the Championships visit Toronto2010.