Records could fall like the Canadian dollar this Saturday at the fifth annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Indoor Track and Field at Richmond Olympic Oval.
The meet, hosted by the Achilles International Track and Field Society will feature a record number of participants.
“With over 600 entries and the inclusion of several international experience athletes, we could expect more than 30 percent of meet records to fall in all divisions,” predicts Achilles Chair, Doug Clement.
The meet, which gets underway at 9:20 a.m., caters to several age-class divisions, Masters and Open competition. For several athletes it marks another test along the trail to this summer’s Pan American Games in Toronto and later the world championships in Beijing.
Here is a look at some of the key events at this year’s meet:
POLE VAULT: This spectacular indoor event is making its first appearance at the meet and should provide an interesting match up between a former Canadian champion and a Grade 12 American high school champion.
Heather Hamilton won the Canadian title in 2013 and the Toronto native is looking forward to making the national team. Her best jump is 4.40 metres. Bellingham teen Kirsten Webber is known to compete in her bare feet and is the Washington State high school champion. Her best jump is 4.07.
MEN`S SHOT PUT: Canadian Olympian Justin Rodhe was ranked sixth in the world before a groin injury put him on the shelf for most of 2013 and last year. His best throw of 21.39 easily surpasses the Jerome meet record of 12.73 metres and he could easily erase that mark on his first throw.
The unknown factor is Langley`s Joshua Goldthorp, the national Highland Games’ heavy lifting champion. He has used the shot put for training purposes but never thrown it in competition.
MEN’S 60 METRES: UBC’s Stephen Abosi has 6.88 seconds this season. The meet mark is 6.91 established last year by Trinity’s Nathan George, who will be in the field again this year to try and defend his title. It should be a very fast race.
Don’t blink!
WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP: The highlight of last year’s meet was this event featuring Vancouver Thunderbird’s Emma Nuttall. The Scottish champion established the meet mark of 1.81. She has since jumped 1.88 at last year’s CIS indoor championships.
UNIVERSITY: Once again it looks like a big battle between UBC and Trinity Western University for bragging rights to this team title. Trinity won the title in 2013 while UBC took it away last year.
It promises to be a great meet. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door.
