Canada announces squad for Daegu – 2011 IAAF World Athletics Championships
With the 2011 IAAF World Championships just around the corner and with every country putting its best squad together for the Daegu event, Canada is the next to follow the route as the country announced a 32-member team for its representation in the heated
event in South Korea.
The World Championships, which is the biggest sporting event of the year, will invite athletes from over 200 countries from around the world. The meet that will last for nine days, will kick-off on Saturday, August 27. In order to have a final preparation
camp in Changwon, the Canadian contingent will leave for South Korea on Sunday, August 14.
Commenting on the team that has been put together for Daegu, Alex Gardiner, the team Head Coach, who also happens to be a world champion, said that the present platform will serve as a springboard for his players to contest at the London Olympics, next year.
He said, “Korea is our dress rehearsal for London and we are preparing athletes to have their best performances of the year in Daegu. Our veterans are ready; Armstrong, Felicien, Zelinka and the men’s 4x100m team are tracking for top finishes.”
He was of the view that with Scot Russell, the javelin thrower improving from an injury and Jim Steacy, who is joining the team to participate in the hammer competition, the squad certainly has depth. The coach said that the results produced by players in
Daegu will be analysed in September. They will then identify and strive to bridge the gaps for the final preparations of the Olympic Games.
Among the most prominent athletes of the Canadian team, Dylan Armstrong, the 30-year-old shot putter will definitely play a key role in the performance of his squad. The Kamloops born athlete, for marking a throw of 22.21m, set a new Canadian record at the
Canadian Championships. This was a remarkable finish which is still cherished as the season’s world leading performance. For bagging a staggering 13 points, Armstrong also leads the Samsung Diamond League’s shot put list.
As formidable as her shot putter colleague, another prominent Canadian performer at Daegu will be hurdling specialist, Perdita Felicien, who is all set to celebrate her 31st birthday o on August 29. The Oshawa born girl, who is being considered
as a favourite for the world championships, will also use the platform to analyse her strengths in context of the Olympic Games in London.
Felicien, the gold medallist of the 2003 World Championships and silver medal winner of the global athletics event held in 2007, is being perceived among the top-three runners of her disciplines in Daegu.
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