OTTAWA - With yesterday's Commonwealth Games opening ceremonies the countdown to track and field is now officially on in India. Megan Muscat from St. Thomas, ON, Leah Robinson of Petersburg, ON, Sam Effah of Calgary, AB, Carline Muir of Edmonton, AB, Amonn Nelson of Calgary, AB, and Dylan Armstrong from Kamloops, BC will be the first athletes to take to the track and to the field on day 1 of athletics competition at the Games.
Athletics at the Games begins Wednesday October 6 and will conclude Tuesday October 12.
Athletes to watch for:
· Jamie Adjetey-Nelson of Windsor, ON has had an outstanding 2010 season which saw him earn his first Canadian Championship title in the decathlon as well as breaking the 8000 point barrier for the first time. He is one of only 4 Canadians to accomplish this feat.
· Dylan Armstrong has had a remarkable year in the Shot Put. In addition to bettering both the indoor and outdoor Canadian records, Armstrong placed 4th in the inaugural Diamond League and was 4th at the World Indoor Championships held in March.
· Expect tight competition in the women's Pole Vault as three Canadians will take part in the final. Port Moody, BC's Carly Dockendorf, Quebec City's Gabriella Duclos-Lasnier and Saskatoon, SK's Kelsie Hendry will all jump for a spot on the podium.
· Sam Effah became Canada's 4th fastest 100 metre sprinter of all time earlier this season by running 10.06 at the NACAC under-23 Championships. Effah's time ranks him behind Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin (9.84) and Nicolas Macrozonaris (10.03).
· Perth, Ontario's Sultana Frizell is a strong contender to stand on her first major games podium in the women's hammer throw.
· Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, QC will compete in the wheelchair T54 classification 1500 metres. At the 2006 edition of these Games Roy won bronze in the T54 800 metres.
· Angela Whyte of Edmonton, AB, and 2006 Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles silver medalist has her sights set on another podium finish.
· Calgary, Alberta's Jessica Zelinka established a seasonal best performance just a few weeks ago; her best performance since taking time off to start her family. Her Canadian record of 6490 points was good for 5th place at the Beijing Olympic Games.
For the full team list, a comprehensive listing of which athletes compete when, schedule (including Eastern Standard Time), start lists and results visit: http://www.athletics.ca/page.asp?id=341.
-AC-
Emily Hooper
Coordinator, Public Relations and Corporate Services
Athletics Canada
(613) 260-5580 x.3332
