Athletics Canada names 35 athletes to NACAC under-23 Championships
Thursday, July 03, 2014
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada named 35 athletes today who will compete in Kamloops, British-Columbia at the 2014 NACAC under-23 Championships August 8 to 10. The team includes nine athletes who hail from British-Columbia and will have the opportunity to compete in an international event in their home province.
Carla Nicholls, head coach for the Canadian NACAC under-23 team, “We have selected our best eligible athletes to compete against one of the strongest regions within the IAAF. The objective is that athletes compete at their very best while challenging for a place on the podium. The experience is intended to cultivate sustainable high performance success and prepare athletes for future international events, including World Championships and Olympic Games.” Nicholls adds, “I can’t think of a better backdrop then Kamloops, B.C., to showcase our home team.”
Headlining the team is Benjamin Thorne of Kitimat, B.C., earlier this season he was part of the Race Walk World Cup team that placed fourth. Last summer he represented Canada at the World Championships placing 20th in the 20-kilometres race walk. Ashlea Maddex of St. Pascal-Boylan, Ont., won bronze at the 2012 NACAC under-23 Championships; she will be on the hunt for a podium finish on home soil.
The team includes two athletes who won national titles at the Canadian Track and Field Championships last weekend in Moncton, N.B. Raymond Dykstra of Grimsby, Ont., who won gold in the men’s javelin and Alyxandria Treasure of Prince George, B.C., who won the national title in the women’s high jump.
At the last edition of this Championship, in 2012, Canada won 18 medals: 4 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze.
2014 NACAC U23 Team
| Name | Event | Hometown | Personal Coach |
| Benjamin Ayesu-Attah | 400m | Coquitlam, BC | Wayne Phipps/Tara Self |
| Maria Bernard | 3000m Steeplechase | Calgary, AB | Terry Crook/Marek Jedrezek |
| Devin Biocchi | 4x400m Relay | Ottawa, ON | Glenroy Gilbert |
| Robin Bone | Pole Vault | London, ON | Dave Collins/Vickie Croley |
| Drelan Bramwell | 200m | Sarnia, ON | Anthony McCleary/Desai Williams |
| Brittany Crew | Shot Put | Toronto, ON | Richard Parkinson |
| Joy Spear Chief-Morris | 4x100m Relay | Lethbridge, AB | Derrick Johnston |
| Connor Darlington | 1500m | Whitby, ON | Paula Schnurr |
| Tamaren Defreitas | 4x100m Relay | Barrie, ON | Cliff Defreitas |
| Christopher Dulhanty | 3000m Steeplechase | Mississauga, ON | Dave Scott-Thomas |
| Raymond Dykstra | Javelin | Grimsby, ON | Andrew Nixon |
| Rachel Francois | 4x400m Relay | St. Albert, AB | Brent Fougner |
| Kayla Gallagher | Hammer | Truro, NS | Larry Steinke |
| Nathan George | 400m | Coquitlam, BC | Tara Self/Laurier Primeau |
| Shaina Harrison | 100m | Aurora, ON | Mike Dwyer |
| Rebecca Haworth | High Jump | Halifax, NS | Simon Watts |
| Evan Karakolis | Javelin | Toronto, ON | Jason Spalding |
| Adam Keenan | Hammer | Victoria, BC | Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk |
| James Linde | 4x100m Relay | Coquitlam, BC | Tara Self |
| Gregory MacNeill | 110m Hurdles | London, ON | Bob Westman |
| Ashlea Maddex | 100m Hurdles | St. Pascal-Baylon, ON | Andy McInnis |
| Sullivan Parker | Shot Put | Vancouver, BC | Mohamad Saatara |
| Alex Porlier-Langlois | Shot Put/Discus | St-Cesaire, QC | Yves Roy |
| Thomas Riva | 800m | Qualicum Beach, BC | Brent Fougner |
| Whitney Rowe | 200m | Burnaby, BC | Katrice Thomas/Derrick Johnston |
| Tyler Smith | 800m | Wetaskiwin, AB | Brent Fougner |
| Julie-Anne Staehli | 3000m Steeplechase | Lucknow, ON | Steve Boyd |
| Carise Thompson | 1500m | Hamilton, ON | Dave Scott-Thomas |
| Benjamin Thorne | 20km Race Walk | Kitimat, BC | Gerald Dragomir |
| Alyxandria Treasure | High Jump | Prince George, BC | Thomas Masich/Cliff Rovelto |
| Jillian Weir | Hammer | Kingston, ON | Robert Weir |
| Jenna Westaway | 800/1500m | Calgary, AB | John Cannon |
| Benjamin Williams | 100/200m | Edmonton, AB | Dwight Francis |
| Jordan Young | Shot Put/Hammer | Windsor, ON | Craig Carter |
| Michelle Young | 100m Hurdles | Saskatoon, SK | Ivan Tam |
For more information on the Championships visit: http://www.nacac2014.com/.
-AC-