Athletics Canada team nominated for Rio 2016
TORONTO — The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Athletics Canada named the 65 athletes nominated to represent Team Canada in athletics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from August 5 to 21.
Some of the athletes selected include: Shawn Barber (pole vault, 2015 World Champion) and Derek Drouin (high jump, 2015 World Champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist) as well as 2015 IAAF World Championship individual medallists Andre De Grasse (sprints), Brianne Theisen-Eaton (heptathlon), Benjamin Thorne (race walk) and Damian Warner (decathlon). The team is led by Head Coach and Chief Technical Officer, Peter Eriksson.
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The athletes earned their spots at the Canadian Championships and Selection Trials which took place July 7-10 at Foote Field in Edmonton, Alberta.
All athletics competitions will be held at the Olympic Stadium (Engenhão), except for the marathons which will take place in the area of Sambódromo and race walking events in Pontal.
At Rio 2016, Canada expects to field a team of approximately 314 athletes.
About Athletics Canada
Athletics Canada is the national governing body for track and field, cross country and road running. Its purpose, through collective leadership, is to drive growth in participation, and enabling sustainable international performances in a positive sport atmosphere.
QUOTES
“This is the strongest and most well-rounded team I have ever been a part of. The team counts multiple world medallists and a talented roster who will challenge for the podium on the track and in the field. My teammates and I are ready to compete for Canada in Rio.”
Brianne Theisen-Eaton, Rio 2016 athlete
“Following a very competitive Trials in Edmonton, we have nominated a versatile and focused group of athletes who will be ready to perform on-demand in Rio. The team is comprised of veterans who have already experienced international success, and up-and-coming athletes who are ready to take the next step.”
Peter Eriksson, Head Coach, Athletics Canada
“The recent results of these nominees is very good reason for Canada to be excited about track and field. This group continues to grow and I’m excited to see what they will bring to Rio. I wish all of you the absolute best in your final preparations as you set your sights for success.”
Curt Harnett, Rio 2016 Team Canada Chef de Mission
“As excitement grows for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, I know our track and field athletes are ready to make an extra effort to push for the podium against the world’s best. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I commend the work done by Athletics Canada to prepare our athletes named today to Team Canada. We’re all behind you.”
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
The athletics team that will represent Canada at Rio 2016 includes:
Athletes:
| First | Last | Hometown | Event |
| Kelsie | Ahbe | Toronto, ON | Pole Vault |
| Mohammed | Ahmed | St. Catharines, ON | 5000m, 10,000m |
| Mobolade | Ajomale | Richmond Hill, ON | 4x100m Relay |
| Shawn | Barber | Toronto, ON | Pole Vault |
| Maria | Bernard | Calgary, AB | 3000m Steeplechase |
| Mathieu | Bilodeau | Calgary, AB | 50km Race Walk |
| Khamica | Bingham | Brampton, ON | 4x100m Relay, 100m |
| Melissa | Bishop | Eganville, ON | 800m |
| Nathan | Brannen | Cambridge, ON | 1500m |
| Lucas | Bruchet | Vancouver, BC | 5000m |
| Aaron | Brown | Toronto, ON | 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay |
| Alicia | Brown | Ottawa, ON | 400m, 4x400m Relay |
| Johnathan | Cabral | Péribonka, QC | 110m Hurdles |
| Chanice | Chase | Toronto, ON | 400m Hurdles, 4x400m Relay |
| Kendra | Clarke | Edmonton, AB | 400m, 4x400m Relay |
| Reid | Coolsaet | Hamilton, ON | Marathon |
| Brittany | Crew | East York, ON | Shot Put |
| Andre | De Grasse | Markham, ON | 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay |
| Derek | Drouin | Corunna, ON | High Jump |
| Krista | DuChene | Brantford, ON | Marathon |
| Evan | Dunfee | Richmond, BC | 20km and 50km Race Walk |
| Crystal | Emmanuel | East York, ON | 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay |
| Phylicia | George | Markham, ON | 100m Hurdles, 4x100m Relay |
| Eric | Gillis | Antigonish, NS | Marathon |
| Elizabeth | Gleadle | Vancouver, BC | Javelin |
| Iñaki | Gomez | Vancouver, BC | 20km Racewalk |
| Akeem | Haynes | Calgary, AB | 100m, 4x100m Relay |
| Nikkita | Holder | Pickering, ON | 100m Hurdles |
| Matthew | Hughes | Oshawa, ON | 3000m Steeplechase |
| Kimberly | Hyacinthe | Terrebonne, QC | 200m, 4x100m Relay |
| Farah | Jacques | Gatineau, QC | 4x100m Relay |
| Sekou | Kaba | Ottawa, ON | 110m Hurdles |
| Marissa | Kurtimah | Guelph, ON | 4x100m Relay |
| Geneviève | Lalonde | Moncton, NB | 3000m Steeplechase |
| Oluwasegun | Makinde | Ottawa, ON | 4x100m Relay |
| Lanni | Marchant | London, ON | 10,000m, Marathon |
| Mike | Mason | Nanoose Bay, BC | High Jump |
| Brandon | McBride | Windsor, ON | 800m |
| Taylor | Milne | Callander, ON | 3000m Steeplechase |
| Noelle | Montcalm | Belle River, ON | 400m Hurdles |
| Carline | Muir | Edmonton, AB | 400m, 4x400m Relay |
| Tim | Nedow | Brockville, ON | Shot Put |
| Christabel | Nettey | Surrey, BC | Long Jump |
| Anicka | Newell | Scarborough, ON | Pole Vault |
| Alysha | Newman | London, ON | Pole Vault |
| Jessica | O’Connell | Calgary, AB | 5000m |
| Charles | Philibert-Thiboutot | Quebec City, QC | 1500m |
| Micha | Powell | Montreal, QC | 4x400m Relay |
| Brendon | Rodney | Brampton, ON | 200m, 4x100m Relay |
| Anthony | Romaniw | Hamilton, ON | 800m |
| Andrea | Seccafien | Guelph, ON | 5000m |
| Nicole | Sifuentes | Winnipeg, MB | 1500m |
| Gabriela | Stafford | Toronto, ON | 1500m |
| Hilary | Stellingwerff | Victoria, BC | 1500m |
| Taryn | Suttie | Hanley, SK | Shot Put |
| Erin | Teschuk | Winnipeg, MB | 3000m Steeplechase |
| Brianne | Theisen-Eaton | Humboldt, SK | Heptathlon |
| Benjamin | Thorne | Kitimat, BC | 20km Race Walk |
| Alyxandria | Treasure | Prince George, BC | High Jump |
| Damian | Warner | London, ON | Decathlon |
| Sage | Watson | Medicine Hat, AB | 400m Hurdles, 4x400m Relay |
| Angela | Whyte | Edmonton, AB | 100m Hurdles |
| Chris | Winter | North Vancouver, BC | 3000m Steeplechase |
| Natasha | Wodak | Vancouver, BC | 10,000m |
Coaches and Support Team:
| Position | First | Last | Hometown |
| Sprints/Hurdles | Charles | Allen | Brampton, ON |
| CTO/Head Coach | Peter | Eriksson | Ottawa, ON |
| Sprints/Relays | Glenroy | Gilbert | Ottawa, ON |
| Endurance | Heather | Hennigar | Halifax, NS |
| Jumps | Jeff | Huntoon | Toronto, ON |
| Team Leader | Jared | MacLeod | Winnipeg, MB |
| Technical Manager | Carla | Nicolls | Regina, SK |
| Throws Coordinator | Richard | Parkinson | Toronto, ON |
| Assistant Manager | Ingrid | Ruys | Victoria, BC |
| Team Manager | Jessica | Scarlatro | Richmond Hill, ON |
| Endurance | Dave | Scott-Thomas | Guelph, ON |
Prior to being named to the final Canadian Rio 2016 Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.