Posted: August 2, 2005

Athletics Canada Announces European Paralympic Championships Team For Track And Field

(August 2, 2005 – Ottawa, ON) – Athletics Canada will be sending a full team of 37 athletes to represent the country at the upcoming International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics Open European Paralympic Championships taking place in Espoo, Finland, August 21-27. This will be the first time Canada has participated in these championships. In the past, the meet was only open to European countries.

“This is a strong team made up of seasoned veterans and promising new talent,” says Jean Laroche, head coach of Athletics Canada’s Paralympic program. “We were third in the team standings at the Paralympic Games in Athens last year and our goal is to maintain our position as one of the top three nations in the world. This meet will be a good step in preparation for the 2006 IPC World Championships.”

In order to be considered for selection, athletes had to meet an international performance standard during a qualifying period of mid-January to mid-June 2005.

Athletics Canada recently held its Canadian Paralympic Athletics Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan, July 22-24, as the final preparatory step for the European Paralympic Championships.

At the Paralympic Games, held in Athens, Greece in 2004, Canada sent a team of 42 men and women that brought home a total of 24 medals, including 10 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze.

Team members are:

 ATHLETES

NAME, CAT, EVENTS, HOMETOWN
Jeff Adams, T54, 1500-5000-Marathon, Toronto, ON
Andre Beaudoin, T52, 100-200-400-800, Cowansville, QC
Dean Bergeron, T52, 200-400-800-1500, Quebec, QC
Alan Bergman, T54, 5000-0000-Marathon, Cobble Hill, BC
Mathieu Blanchette, T53, 800-1500-5000-10000-Marathon, Quebec, QC
Jacques Bouchard, T54, 100-200-400, Alma, QC
Chelsea Clark, T34, 100-200-400-800, Missisauga, ON
Greg Dailey, Guide, 800 (T12)-1500, St. George, ON
Jason Dunkerley, T11, 800 (T12)-1500, Hamilton, ON
Michel Filteau, T54, 1500-5000-10000-Marathon, St. Jean Baptiste, QC
Eric Flemming, F35, 100-Javelin, Oshawa, ON
Lisa Franks, T52, 100-200-400-800, Moose Jaw, SK
Eric Gauthier, T53, 100-200-400-800, St. Faustin, QC
Clayton Gerein, T52, 800-1500, Pilot Butte, SK
Andrea Holmes, F44, Long jump-100 (T46) , Vancouver, BC
Courtney Knight, F13, Pentathlon, Burnaby, BC
Chelsea Lariviere, T34, 100-200  , Mountain, ON
Mark Ledo, T54, 800-1500-5000, Maple, ON
Carl Marquis, T54, 400-800-1500-5000, Montreal, QC
Jacques Martin, F55, Javelot-Disque, St-Denis Brompton, QC
Jessica Matassa, T54, 200-400-800-1500, Windsor, ON
Colin Mathieson, T54, 100-200-400-800, Winnipeg, AB
Stuart McGregor, T13, 400-1500, Ottawa, ON
Blair Miller, T38, 400-800, Port Alberni, BC
Daniel Normandin, T54, 100-200-400, Laval, QC
Barry Patriquin, T53, 100-200-400-800, Oxford, NS
Chantal Petitclerc, T54, 200-400-800-1500, Montreal, QC
Kyle Pettey, F35, Discus-Shot put, Campbellford, ON
Diane Roy, T54, 400-800-1500-5000-Marathon, Hatley, QC
James Shaw, F38, Shot put-Discus, Newcastle, ON
Kelly Smith, T54, Marathon, Kamloops, BC
William Stanley, T13, 100-200, Calgary, AB
Michelle Stillwell, T52, 100-200-400-800, Nanoose Bay, BC
Curtis Thom, T54, 100-200-400-800, Burnaby, BC
Kris Vriend, F36, Discus-Shot put, Edmonton, AB
Dustin Walsh, T11, 100-200-400, Coquitlum, BC
Steve Walters, Guide, 100-200-400, Vancouver, BC

Other members of Team Canada in Espoo include:

Head of Delegation
Danny Daniels

Team Staff
Jean Laroche – Head Coach
Mark Heidebrecht – Team Manager
Don Steen – Coach
Earl Church – Coach
Amanda Fader – Coach
Peter Lawless – Coach
David Greig – Coach
Rick Reelie – Coach 
P. David Howe – Coach
Marc Deschênes – Equipment Manager
Susan Labrecque –Team Doctor
Remo Bucci – Massage Therapist
John Pradier – Physiotherapist 

Athletes are classified in various classes, based on their type of physical disability. Athletes with a visual impairment, cerebral palsy, amputation, or a spinal cord injury, will compete in running/wheeling, throwing and/or jumping events

Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running and road running. Its purpose is to support high performance athletics excellence at the world level and to provide leadership in developmental athletics. Athletics Canada is a not for profit, charitable organization operating under a board of directors elected by provincial / territorial members.