Victoria International Track Classic NTL 5 2013

Victoria Preview: Brannen Goes Hunting and Abbott vs. Harris

Victoria Preview: Brannen Goes Hunting and Abbott vs. Harris

Jul 4, 2013 by Jimmy Stevenson
Victoria Preview: Brannen Goes Hunting and Abbott vs. Harris
The last stop on the National Track League tour is upon us! What better way to go out than at the Victoria International Track Classic. This meet includes many Canadians going after some standards for Worlds as well as some of the finest international competition around.

Event:
National Track League - Victoria International Track Classic
Date:
Friday, July 5, 2013

Watch LIVE on Flotrack (free) (Starting at 9:15pm ET/6:15pm PT)

Meet Schedule
Start List

Men’s 1500m
Top Contenders
Nate Brannen
Rob Finnerty
Duncan Phillips
Pablo Solares
Jordan Williamsz

It’s the last meet on the NTL circuit and Canada’s most hopeful candidate to do well at the World Championships in the metric mile toes the line again. The only problem is, he hasn't run the standard to give him entrance into Worlds, despite his 3:34.22 personal best from last year.

On Monday, 
Nate Brannen won the 1,500m at the Harry Jerome Track Classic in 3:37. 17, just missing the 3:37.00 mark that comes complete with a plane ticket to Moscow, Russia.

If he runs sub 3:37.00 (something he has not done at all this season), Brannen will join Canada’s distance crew competing at Worlds that includes the qualifiers in the following events: Cam Levins (5,000 meters and 10,000m), Mohammed Ahmed (10,000m) and the 3,000m steeplechase team of Matt Hughes, Alex Genest and Chris Winter

The United States’ top contenders look to be Rob Finnerty from the University of Wisconsin and Duncan Phillips, who trains with Leo Manzano in Austin, TX. Take a look at this week’s Workout Wednesday where Phillips takes it to Manzano in a few reps.

Finnerty was sixth on Monday with a 3:38.82, but no one who finished between him and Brannen at the Harry Jerome Classic are running at Victoria.

Also keep an eye on Mexican Olympian Pablo Solares (8th at Harry Jerome, 3:39.14) and Australia’s Jordan Williamsz who was right behind Solares in 3:39.61.


Women’s 800m
Top Contenders
Geena Gall
Melissa Bishop
Karine Belleau-Beliveau
Chanelle Price

The women’s 800m race boasts a strong field of Canadians with a pair of Americans. Geena Gall has the fastest time of the season in the field with her 2:00.53, but she is coming off a difficult race on Monday where she faded to a 2:04.27.

In that same race it was Melissa Bishop who crossed the line first with a season’s best of 2:00.67. Bishop is the only Canadian half-miler sitting comfortably with a spot on the team for Worlds.

Since Karine Belleau-Beliveau got second at Canadian Nationals, she has a chance to join Bishop in Moscow. The only way to grab that spot is to run 2:00.00 or faster. Belleau-Beliveau will need a huge race to accomplish that feat as she has only ran 2:01.79 this season, which is also her personal best.

In addition to Gall, Chanelle Price is the other American in the field. She was two spots behind Belleau-Beliveau in 2:02.00 at the Harry Jerome Track Classic on Monday. Look for her closing speed if she is in good position coming around the final curve.

 
Men’s 800m
Top Contenders
Joe Abbott
Geoff Harris

The men’s 800m features a Canadian National Champion, an NCAA Champion, and some guy named Joe Abbott. And let me officially declare that the last casual referral to Mr. Abbott ever!

In Vancouver this past Monday, Abbott made a desisive move with 200m to go to take the lead over Charles Jock and he never looked back breaking the tape in 1:45.35.


Joe Abbott at the Harry Jerome Classic winning 800m with great kick

Don’t expect him to just walk away with the win at Victoria, though. Abbott faces stiff competition from recent 800m Canadian Champion Geoff Harris. Where Abbott’s hopes to compete at Worlds have been slashed by Duane Solomon, Nick Symmonds and Brandon Johnson, Harris still has an opportunity to run in Moscow. How? Run 1:46.20 or faster.

Don’t think it cannot be done. The guy ran 1:45.97 in his Olympic rounds and surely does not want to be the only mid-distance/distance runner from Canadian to not represent his country at Worlds (that is if Brannen makes it in the 1,500m).