Team Canada for Commonwealth Games

Derek Drouin

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada, the national governing body for track and field, cross country, road running and road racing, nominated a contingent of 50 athletes today to Commonwealth Games Canada.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow, Scotland July 23 to August 3 and will be the largest ever multi-sport event held on Scottish soil. Athletics competition at the Commonwealth Games will take place at Hampden Park Stadium July 27 through August 2.

Headlining Athletics Canada’s nominations is 2012 Olympic and 2013 World Championship bronze medallist Derek Drouin of Corunna, Ont. This season Derek improved the Canadian record when he surpassed the 2.40-metres mark, one of only ten in history to have cleared that magical barrier. Two-time World Championship silver medallist Brianne Theisen-Eaton of Humboldt, Sask., is looking to add a Commonwealth Games title to her already impressive résumé. Damian Warner of London, Ont., is another one to keep a close eye on; he won bronze in the decathlon at the 2013 World Championships.

Head Coach Peter Eriksson on the squad, “I am very proud of the team selected. Our team objective is to surpass the results from the 2010 edition of the Games where we won 17 medals (7 gold, 2 silver and 8 bronze). In 2010, 84 percent of the team finished in the top eight. The team is a healthy mix of young blood and experienced athletes, they are focused on what it will take to get the job done.”

“I am very excited to see the athletics team compete in Glasgow, the sport that brought me so many memories throughout the years”, comments Chantal Petitclerc, Chef de mission for Team Canada. “As an athlete, the Commonwealth Games were one of my favourite competitions and I am looking forward to new memories supporting athletes from the other side of the track.” Chantal herself is a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the T54 800-metres from the 2002 and 2006 Games.

The team nominees includes seven medallists from past Commonwealth Games; Josh Cassidy, Sultana Frizell, Carline Muir, Diane Roy, James Steacy, Angela Whyte, and Jessica Zelinka.

“The competition on the track and in the field in Glasgow will generate a tremendous amount of excitement, and we look forward to our Canadian athletes being right in the mix”, said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). “Congratulations to the members of this Athletics team who are primed and ready to continue the tradition of excellence at the Commonwealth Games.”

Athletics Canada Commonwealth Games nominees:

Men

Women

Even though they don’t have standard, Alicia Newman and James Steacy have been nominated to the team. Newman is currently ranked second in the Commonwealth in the women’s pole vault while Steacy is the top ranked hammer thrower in the Commonwealth. For more on the athletics team at the Commonwealth Games, including full selection process

A team of 265 athletes and close to 100 coaches and support staff will be in Glasgow, Canada’s largest Team ever fielded for a non-home Games.  The entire Canadian Team, as well as the team’s flag bearer, will be officially announced by Commonwealth Games Canada in July 2014.