Posted: May 14, 2007

Athletics: Windsor will host Track and Field’s finest

OTTAWA – The 2007 Canadian Track and Field Championships, co-hosted by the University of Windsor and the Windsor Legion Track and Field Club, will take place July 12 to 15 at the University of Windsor Stadium. For the first time ever the Canadian Track and Field Championships will be a fully integrated event, staging both the athletes with a disability and able bodied championships at the same venue. Martin Goulet, Athletics Canada Chief High Performance Officer knows how important the 2007 season is; “A typical pre-Olympic year, this year will be an extremely busy and crucial season for our National Team program, 2007 is a rehearsal - a dry-run - for the 2008 Olympic Games. What will take place in Windsor July 12-15 will mirror this.” Goulet adds that the choice of Windsor was fitting; “I am entirely confident we made the right choice in choosing Windsor. The athletics community has the right facility, the right spirit, the right team and the right leadership: a great fit for the road leading to Beijing!” The Championships serve as the Selection Trials for the 2007 IAAF World Championships held in Osaka, Japan beginning August 25. The Championships will feature every athlete named, barring injury, to the 2007 Pan American Games and Parapanamerican Games teams. A number of recent Canadian record-breakers will compete at these championships. Tabia Charles from Pickering, ON (Triple Jump), Adam Kunkel from Paisely, ON (400m-hurdles), Brent Lakatos from Dorval, QC (200-metres T53), Gary Reed from Victoria, BC (800-metres), James Steacy from Lethbridge, AB (hammer throw), and Jessica Zelinka from London, ON (heptathlon) all entered the record books in 2006 in their respective disciplines. Para-athletics legends Chantal Peticlerc from Montreal, QC and Diane Roy from Hatley, QC will also line-up. Petitclerc won two gold and two silver medals at the 2006 IPC World Championships. She also set two Games records. Diane Roy captured one gold, one silver and one bronze at the IPC Worlds and set a games record in the wheelchair marathon. “Windsor welcomes the top track and field athletes in the country in their quest to become a Canadian Champion. We are happy to announce that 1000 Event passes will go on sale June 4th and will be available in the main athletics office at the University of Windsor from 09:00 to 16:30 until the beginning of the event. The four day All-Event Passes are available for a special price of $ 15 and will also be available, starting June 4th at The Tortoise and the Hare, The Running Factory, Nantais Source for Sports and Bob Reaume Sports. Sessional tickets (there are six sessions during the four day event) will also be available starting Monday, July 9th at the University of Windsor athletic office.” said Dennis Fairalll, co-chair of host committee. “ A variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. Sponsorship packages include the opportunity for a two year sponsorship which would include the Beijing Trials next year,” added Fairall. For further event information please visit Athletics Canada (www.athletics.ca) or the event website - www.nationalchampswindsor.c. CBC television will once again broadcast the championships; check your local listings for broadcast dates. Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running, road running and road racing. Its purpose is the pursuit of leadership, development and competition that ensures world-level performance in athletics.