14 Canadians set for IAAF World Indoor Championships in Oregon
From March 17 to 20, Canada’s track athletes will compete in the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon.
The team of fourteen named by Athletics Canada will be competing for medals in 10 events. Some of the athletes leading the way are Shawn Barber, Mohammed Ahmed, Crystal Emmanuel and Brianne Theisen-Eaton.
In January, Barber joined the elite six-metre club at an indoor meet in Reno, Nevada. The pole vaulter is also the reigning world champion, a feat he achieved a month after winning gold at the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Shawn Barber at the World Championships in Beijing on August 24, 2015.
RELATED: Barber’s biggest moments to date as he joins the six-metre club
Ahmed and Cameron Levins will be running in the 3000 metres. Back in September 2015, Ahmed set a new Canadian record in the 5000m at the final Diamond League meet of the year, breaking a 17-year-old mark with a time of 13:10.00. Ahmed set a new Canadian indoor record for the 3000m at the Millrose Games, finishing the race in 7:40.11. Both runners made their Olympic debut at London 2012, and are looking for a chance to go to Rio 2016.
Canada’s Cameron Levins, centre, and Ahmed Mohammed, right, pass Ecuador’s Bayron Piedra, left, in the men’s 10000-metre final at London 2012. (Photo: CP/Ryan Remiorz)
Also competing in men’s competition are Mobolade Ajomale (60m), Philip Osei (400m), and Tim Nedow (Shot Put).
On the women’s side, Emmanuel seeks a return to the Olympic Games. She also made her Olympic debut at London 2012, and made it to the semifinals of the 200m. Emmanuel will be running alongside teammate Angela Whyte, who competed at the Games of Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly Ann Baptiste, left, Jamaica’s Schillonie Calvert, center, and Canada’s Crystal Emmanuel compete in the semifinals of the women’s 100 meter race at Toronto 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Theisen-Eaton and Georgia Ellenwood will take part in the pentathlon. Theisen-Eaton was at the previous IAAF World Indoor Championships in 2014, where she won the silver medal. She is the national record holder in the heptathlon scoring 6808 points in May 2015. She is the reigning world silver medallist in the heptathlon and made her Olympic debut at London 2012.
Brianne Theisen-Eaton competing in the hurdles portion of the heptathlon at Moscow 2013 World Championships.
Nicole Sifuentes (1500m), Gabriella Stafford (1500m), Jessica O’Connell (3000m), and Sheila Reid (3000m) will also be competing in women’s events.
The IAAF World Indoor Championships are available to stream online at CBC Sports.
