© Copyright – Christopher Kelsall – 2011

Athletics Canada is launching the brand new, National Track League next summer offering up to $50, 000 per meet in prize money to create competitive opportunities in Canada for young up-and-comers and to help keep 2012 Olympians competing at home.

This is great news for the sport of athletics in Canada. Road racing, cross-country and multi-sport events such as Olympic distance triathlon and ironman have grown, while track has languished in Canada. This will raise awareness of the sport in Canada's major Centers.

The five-meet series is modeled after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) elite Diamond League series.

2011 National Track League schedule:

• Edmonton International Track Classic - June 29 - Edmonton, AB – Foote Field
• Harry Jerome International Track Classic - July 1 - Vancouver, BC – Swangard Stadium
• Victoria International Track Classic - July 3 - Victoria, BC – Centennial Stadium
  
• Aileen Meagher International Track Classic - July 10 - Halifax, NS – Huskies Stadium
  
• Name TBD - July 13 - Toronto, ON – University of Toronto Varsity Centre

“The basic intent in this whole series is to try to stimulate those athletes just below the Diamond League,” says Doug Clement, president of the Achilles International Track and Field Society that runs the annual Jerome event.

“Take [hurdlers] Priscilla Lopes-Schleip and Perdita Felicien, seldom in the last few years have they competed in Canada. We’re hoping they could consider getting into a minimum of three events.”

“We’re determined to go ahead even if that prize list is relatively modest [in the first year],” said Clement. “I think we can get started and find a way to get funds into that pool one way or the other.”

Getting Toronto on board was crucial, he said. He also said Moncton, which successfully hosted the world junior track and field championships this year, and Montreal are also keen to get on board.

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Contact Chris: chriskelsall@flocasts.org