London Calling: Shot put king Dylan Armstrong looks to regain top spot

By Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun

From frustrating to foul, Canadian shot putter Dylan Armstrong’s 2012 season was creating more of a thud than the sound the 16-pound steel sphere makes when tossed by one of track and field’s spinning behemoths.

But down in the western Caribbean this week, far from the London-prep spotlight, the Kamloops native showed you can find a return on investment in the Cayman Islands that has nothing at all to do with money.

The hard-training, 300-lb. Armstrong, who had slipped to the No. 12 world ranking after being No. 1 through 2011, threw 21.15 metres on Wednesday night to win the inaugural Cayman Invitational.

At the world indoor championships in Istanbul in early March, he was bothered by a sore throwing arm, failing to make the final when his best throw went just 19.84 metres. He said then that the injury wasn’t a “long-term concern,” but in his first meet of the outdoor season, April 18, in Lawrence, Kansas, he fouled on all six of his throws.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/London+Calling+Shot+king+Dylan+Armstrong+looks+regain+spot/6601729/story.html

Little-known distance runner Levins turns heads with blistering 10,000

By Lori Ewing, Canadian Press

As the laps churned by one after another, Cameron (Cam) Levins did the math in his head and knew he was on a fast pace.

But he’d never run 10,000 metres on the track and had no idea what to expect in the final few lung-busting laps.

He certainly never could have guessed the outcome.

The little-known Canadian distance runner recorded this season’s fastest 10,000 in the world last weekend at the Payton Jordan Invitational. In his rookie race, he easily met the Olympic standard with the second-fastest time in Canadian history.

“It was pretty crazy,” Levins said, during a break from training at the University of Southern Utah. “I knew we were going to get a good time but I honestly had no idea what we were actually at, all I was hearing was lap splits. I was thinking, ‘I think we’re going along quick.’ But I had no clue how quick the finishing time was going to be.

“If I had, maybe I would have tried to go for that Canadian record. But it was my first one and I was just going out to experience it, see what happens.”

Read more: http://www.thestar.com/sports/london2012/athletics/article/1173250–little-known-distance-runner-levins-turns-heads-with-blistering-10-000

INSTANT REPLAY: The marathon man from West Van

By Len Corben, North Shore Outlook

In Tom Howard’s grad write-up in the 1966 West Van High yearbook, he asks, “Running gets you somewhere, but where?”

Well, how about across Canada and the U.S., and to Denmark, Germany, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Britain, France, Poland, Sweden, Russia, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Olympics?

When Tom ran to victory in the first Vancouver Marathon 40 years ago on May 27, 1972, there were 56 entrants (32 of whom finished) running five laps around Stanley Park.  

Back on that day in 1972, Tom – a product of the West Van school system and the early days of the NorWesters Track Club, and who had already been to Europe to compete in some distance races – was running his first marathon at age 23.

At the five-mile mark of the 26-mile, 385-yard race, he decided to leave the pack of front runners and recalls saying to the others, “I think I’d like to go a little faster pace” as he set out on his own. Someone responded, anticipating the rookie would eventually wilt, “We’ll see you later when we catch you.”

Tom never looked back, and they never caught him. Yet, little did they – or Tom, for that matter – realize he was now well on his way to a career in marathon running that would include victories in the first three annual Vancouver Marathons (in progressively faster times of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 8 seconds; 2:21:46 and 2:14:34) and take him all the way to three Boston marathons (1975, ’79 and ’81), the Pan-American Games in Mexico City (1975, third place) and San Juan (1979, seventh), and the 1976 Montreal Olympics (30th).

Read more: http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/sports/149841615.html

Eyes on the Prize: Sprints, Jumps let Langley’s TWU-bound Dolfo find his wings

By Howard Tsumura, The Province

Braedon Dolfo has never worried about the 95 per cent vision he doesn’t have.

Instead, the Langley Secondary senior is using the five per cent he does have, along with a huge heart, to charge head-on towards a potential spot on the Canadian team which will compete in 2012 Paralympic Games later this summer in London.

And after that, despite his visual impairment, Dolfo is set to begin his university career in the fall as a member of the able-bodied track and field team at his hometown Trinity Western University.

“I would describe (my vision) as looking through a straw,” says Dolfo, who will test his best against the rest of the Canada West conference next season. “There is no peripheral vision. It’s all just dead centre. But my parents never held me back from anything. I started out by trying everything from gymnastics, to soccer, to my first love which is basketball. But I just decided that track was the easiest because it was just me and the track. It was a sport where I didn’t have a ball flying at my face all the time.”

Working with Langley Mustangs coach Kim Chapdelaine brought out the best in Dolfo.

Read more: http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/05/01/eyes-on-the-prize-sprints-jumps-let-langleys-twu-bound-dolfo-find-his-wings/

Age only a number for these athletes

By Yvonne Zacharias, Vancouver Sun

The mere mention of the words track-and-field conjures images of hyped-up kids running, jumping and throwing and of sports days in small communities where adults are relegated to the tasks of serving hotdogs and issuing muffled announcements over a makeshift loudspeaker.

Two seniors in West Vancouver have taken this stereotype, swung it around a few times and sent it hurling into the dust. They have amply shown that they are quite capable of track-and-field themselves.

Not only did Christa Bortignon and Olga Kotelko take up a favourite high school endeavour in their mid-70s; they have gone on to smash world records with their athletic prowess at ages 75 and 93, respectively.

Both recently returned from the 2012 world masters indoor championship in Jyvaeskylae, Finland, chugging a heavy load of medals. With 2,713 participants from 65 countries, Canada came seventh in total gold medals, hauling in 22. That’s almost exclusively due to the feats of Kotelko, who won 12 gold, and Bortignon who claimed seven.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/only+number+these+athletes/6494074/story.html#ixzz1shWFDbW9

Interview with Dr. Trent Stellingwerff

By Chris Kelsall

Dr. Trent Stellingwerff is a former track and field athlete who competed in the NCAA, who was an academically decorated student making the Dean’s list at Cornell University and was twice awarded Academic All-Canadian status during the years 2001 and 2002. In 2006 he took a position in Switzerland for the Nestle Research Centre (Powerbar) as a Senior Research Scientist in Sport Nutrition, Energy and Performance. Stellingwerff has also served as the Nutrition and Physiology Consultant for Athletics Canada.

He and his wife Hilary (1500m runner), recently relocated to Victoria, BC where he accepted the position of Senior Physiologist working with the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific.

Read the interview here, http://athleticsillustrated.com/interviews/trent-stellingwerff/

Stilwell training Down Under

By James Clarke, Parksville Qualicum News

She’s a long way from home — around 8,000 miles as the crow flies by our calculation — but Nanoose Bay’s Michelle ‘Mikey’ Stilwell is back in the news here in B.C. as she’s been nominated for another Sport BC Athlete of the Year award.

That nomination prompted The News to check in with Mikey, who is currently down under training with the Canadian national team in Australia.

“We are here for the warm weather training in prep for London as well as the Summer Down Under Series which begins Jan. 19 and runs through until Jan. 26.”

A showcase and litmus test for wheelchair athletes from the world over, the series features three nights of track and finishes on the 26th (Australia Day) with a 10km race through the historic Rocks in downtown Sydney.

Read more: http://www.pqbnews.com/sports/137453003.html

2012 Winter Wheelchair Athletics Clinic: Invitation to throws coaches in British Columbia

Courtesy of BC Wheelchair Sports Association – Jan 6, 2012

BC Wheelchair Sports Association (BCWSA) is hosting the Winter Wheelchair Athletics Clinic from January 21 to January 22, 2012, and is excited to announce National Para Throws Coach, Ken Hall, will be conducting the throws portion of the two-day clinic. BCWSA is inviting current throws coaches who are interested in learning about para throwing (focus on tie-down throwing), the opportunity to attend the clinic and gain valuable experience working with current para throwers in the province under the instruction of Ken Hall.

BCWSA with support from BC Athletics have undertaken the development of tie-down throwing in order to develop athletes leading up to the 2013 Canada Summer Games. Each province has been allocated two spots (one female, one male) for para throwers to compete in the shot put and discus events at the 2013 Games. In 2011, tie-down throws events were introduced at three track and field meets in British Columbia (Elwood Memorial, Nanaimo; Pacific Invitational, Langley; and BC Jamboree Championships, Coquitlam). Fifteen athletes from across the province were introduced to the sport last year, with seven athletes competing at the three track and field meets. The objective of this clinic is to educate current throws coaches in the province on para throwing in order to increase the knowledge of this sport to support the development of para throwers leading up to the 2012 National Track and Field Championships and the 2013 Canada Summer Games.

Guest Para Throws Coach, Ken Hall:

• Canadian National Para Throws Coach, provincial coach for Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association and Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association.
• Head throws coach at the IPC Para Pan American Games, Mar Del Plata, Argentina
• Head throws coach, IPC World Championships, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Currently coaches Kyle Pettey (F34 shot put), ranked #3 in the world, two time world record holder, 2010 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, 3 time Paralympian, and Rene Foessel (F38 shot put, discus, javelin) ranked #1 to #3 in the world. 

WHEN/WHERE:

• Saturday January 21, 2012 (9am – 4pm) – GF Strong Rehab Centre Gym, Vancouver
• Sunday January 22, 2012 (9am-3pm) – Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond

FOR:

Coaches in British Columbia who would like to learn about para throws under the instruction of National para throws coach, Ken Hall, and have the opportunity to work with current para throwers in the province. You will gain valuable knowledge on para throwing and gain experience working with athletes with a physical disability.

OUT OF TOWN COACHES:

• BCWSA will provide travel subsidies for out of town coaches attending the clinic.
• Host Hotel: Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel (7551 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC V6X 1A3).
• Room Rate: $119 + tax www.sheraton.com/vancouverairport

TO REGISTER:

Contact Holly Tawse – BCWSA Program Coordinator (holly@bcwheelchairsports.com or 604.333.3526)

End of the School Day: Let’s Play! (RJT Success story from Andrea Pask of PISE)

This week’s CS4L Blog (http://canadiansportforlife.ca/blog) features a day in the After School Sports Initiative (ASSI) in Victoria with leader Andrea Pask of PISE. Andrea Pask is the Physical Literacy Coordinator at the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence in Victoria. She has a Physical Education degree from the University of Alberta and is certified as a CSCS, a Run Jump Throw Instructor and a NCCP Fundamental Movement Skills Coach.

Check out her Blog post: CLICK HERE

Action Schools! Success Story – Run Jump Throw at Ranch Park Elementary

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of Action Schools! BC

Ranch Park Elementary, a Coquitlam school of more than 200 students, has been registered with Action Schools! BC since 2004. Action Schools! BC is a best practices model designed to assist schools in creating individualized action plans to promote healthy living while achieving academic outcomes. The school staff, supported by principal Don Hutchinson, appreciates the widespread benefits that physical activity and healthy eating have on the students and integrate them into each school day in many creative ways.

Ranch Park uses local, provincial, and national programs, services and facilitators to expand students’ access to sport and physical activity opportunities. During teacher collaborative time each Monday, students meet in the
gym for 30-60 minutes of Physical Education focusing on fundamental movement skills (FMS) based on PHE (Physical and Health Education) Canada’s FMS Series, BC Athletic’s Run Jump Throw Program, and Gymnastics BC’s Kids CanMove
Program.

Read the full Story here! 

For Armstrong, improved consistency bodes well as London Games approach

IAAF Feature on Kamloops Dylan Armstrong

Consistency is a prominent word in Dylan Armstrong’s vocabulary to the point where it’s actually become a mantra.

And, when the Canadian shot putter won the 2011 Diamond Race event title of the  Samsung Diamond League in the event, captured the IAAF World Championships silver medal and set a stunning world leading mark of 22.21m, it was clear his approach to competition had paid off handsomely. Consistency summarised his year.

Read the feature: http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/OLY12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=62988

Running Times – 5 Minutes with Cam Levins

There are a couple of reasons you’ve never heard of Southern Utah’s Cameron Levins before the 2011 NCAA cross country season. One might be that he’s Canadian. Yep, the only sub-4:00 miler in SUU’s history (3:59.80, set in the 2010 indoor season) hails from Black Creek, B.C., a small Vancouver Island town that Levins explains by referencing it to the bigger towns it’s closer to. Another reason might be that, though Levins was the runner-up to BYU’s Miles Batty at the Nov. 12 Mountain region XC championships in Provo, Utah, he’s never actually been to the NCAA cross country championships.

But Levins has his C.V. packed with accomplishments outside of the collegiate system. During his 2010-11 redshirt year, Levins first won the ASGI Canadian Cross Country Championships last November. Then he was the runner-up to the U.S.’s Robert Cheseret at the NACAC Cross Country Championships on Feb. 19. And on March 21, in Punta Umbria, Spain, Levins was the top Canadian at World Cross Country Championships, finishing 57th.

All that time away from his home at Southern Utah has changed him, Levins says. It’s been obvious this season, as he won four different meets in the month of October alone, including the Summit League Championship, the Chile Pepper Festival, the Bill Dellinger Invitational and at the Color Country Invitational. If anyone can stop University of Arizona’s Lawi Lalang on Nov. 21 in Terra Haute, Ind., the man with arguably the greater high-level racing experience isn’t a bad bet.

Read more: http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=24523

BMO Vancouver Marathon eliminates loops for straight ahead route

By Megan Stewart, Vancouver Courier

Taking its cue from some of the most prestigious road races on the planet, the BMO Vancouver Marathon is changing the routes for the marquee 42-kilometer marathon and shorter, 21-km half-marathon from a repetitive, back-and-forth course to an improved point-to-point race.

Point-to-point races begin and end at different locations and tend to be extremely popular. When Los Angeles changed from a loop course to a point-to-point route, registration soared from approximately 14,000 to 25,000 runners.

In 2010, the Vancouver marathon drew close to 4,000 runners and this year will be capped at 5,000. The half-marathon drew about 10,000 runners in 2010 and this year will be limited as well.

The 2012 event will begin at Queen Elizabeth Park before heading west through Marpole along West 49th Avenue to Dunbar where it enters Pacific Spirit Park, travels near the university and slopes down to Spanish Banks, along Jericho Beach, through Kitsilano and over the Burrard Bridge before completing a complete loop of Stanley Park to finish at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

On Sunday May 6, 2012, the seawall will be closed to the public, a first in the history of the event.

After also setting off from Queen Elizabeth Park, the half-marathon covers only a short stretch of the same terrain on the seawall. The route heads north on Cambie Street, crosses the Cambie Street Bridge and circles through Chinatown and Yaletown before meeting the seawall, criss-crossing through Stanley Park and also finishing at the downtown convention centre.

The previous course started and finished at the Plaza of Nations, meaning runners ran the same stretch of road twice, which had runners moving in both directions in separated lanes along the same road.

“Some people enjoy going and seeing people go out and back along the marathon route,” said race director Jordan Myers, but he noted the deflated feeling many other runners experience when they see the faster competition has doubled their own distance.

“A lot of people have a hard time with that. You’re at kilometre 28 and you’re already seeing people coming back in the other direction—it’s a little hard, especially if the weather isn’t ideal.”

Two trips over the Burrard Bridge also irked some participants.

“Going over the Burrard Bridge several times, people were just over it,” said Myers, formerly the event’s volunteer coordinator. “They love the Burrard Bridge but they don’t need to be seeing it twice.”

The two race courses were designed by a dedicated group of volunteers who considered as many as 23 different routes. Myers was enamoured with the notion of starting the marathon from the middle of the Lions Gate Bridge, but the logistics proved “tremendous” and ultimately unworkable.

“We argued and debated just ferociously,” he said. They also debated the merits of a looped course, the most common, often most affordable and easily organized long-distance configuration, which would put the start and finish lines at the same location with the course circling the city before looping back.

With point-to-point marathon and half-marathon courses, the BMO-sponsored event joins New York, Boston and London.

Established in 1972, the first runners to attempt the Vancouver marathon circled Stanley Park four times. This city’s long-distance running event came one year after New York’s, which circled Central Park five times. One vital difference: women were barred from almost all marathon events. Five women ran—one completed—the inaugural Vancouver race.

Eventually, the race courses forked and the loops were abandoned. Myers told the story of Fred Lebow, the founder of the New York marathon, and the commitment he showed to his own vision of a point-to-point course.

“He sold his crackpot idea: everyone you’re going to do this and you’re going to hit all five boroughs. Everyone thought he was crazy,” said Myers, who revels in the diversity and lifestyles of his own city’s neighbourhoods.

“We wanted to make a signature event that showcases some of the best shore lines, cultural neighbourhoods and how we live on the West Coast,” said Myers, detailing the different addresses the half- and full-marathon will pass. “We’ve even got a street of—it kind of warms my heart—Vancouver Specials, huge houses in Kerrisdale and Point Grey, then we go to the university district and then this mix of bungalows in Kits, and then we go downtown and around the seawall.”

Online registration is open now for the May 6, 2012 event. Visit bmovanmarathon.ca.

Read more: http://www.vancourier.com/Vancouver+Marathon+eliminates+loops+straight+ahead+route/5508302/story.html

GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Announces Strong Elite Field

There will be exciting competition this year in the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon. The Men’s Marathonchampion, Philip Samoei, is back to defend his title, as is Lisa Harvey in the Women’s Half Marathon. The 8K features three-time XTERRA World Champion Melissa McQuaid and triathlete Kyle Jones. The 32^nd Annual event, which takes place on Sunday, October 9, had 11,133 registrations when online registration closed at noon yesterday.

Philip Samoei will be hoping to better his 2010 time of 2:23:24. He recently ran the Manitoba Marathon and was second in the Montreal Half Marathon two weeks ago. Close on his heels will be the 2011 Oak Bay Half Marathon winner, Gilbert Kiptoo (1:06:49) who also placed second at the BMO Vancouver Marathon this year in 2:23:09. Third seed is three-time winner of the BMO Vancouver Marathon, Thomas Omwenga. He has a PB of 2:10:34 and is aiming to run 2:15, which would break the course record of 2:16:49, set by Steve Osaduik in 2006.

BC athletes running the Marathon include Ryan Day, who recently moved to Victoria from Vancouver. Ryan was second this year in the Canadian Derby Edmonton Marathon in 2:35:09 and has a personal best of 2:19:55 in the 2005 Ottawa Marathon. The Master’s Marathon record could be under threat as Vancouver’s Graeme Wilson, running as a Master this year, has a PB of 2:27:54 (Victoria in 2009). The record, set in 1988 by Tom Howard, is 2:27:36.

“The women’s field will see some interesting competition with two Americans hoping to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials,” says Jonathan Foweraker, Coordinator, Dairyland Elite Athlete Program. Trisha Steidl is aiming to break the 2:46 barrier – she has a PB of 2:48:17 from the Austin Marathon, and has run Seattle and Vancouver several times, finishing consistently in the top three. “Chelsea VanDeBrake is an exciting young runner and at 23 years old,Victoria will be her third marathon,” says Foweraker. “She ran an impressive 2:49:52 at Grandma’sMarathonthis year. Vancouver Sun Run winner Lucy Njeri will be in strong contention – she has a PB of 2:34 from the 2008 Mazatlan Marathon, and she has won the Around the Bay 30km race for the past three years. And it’s great to see Suzanne Evans back! The three-time Victoria winner came second last year in 2:53:53.”

In the Half Marathon the top three seeds are all aiming at 1:06. James Lander, who now lives in Esquimalt, was second in the marathon last year and has a Half PB of 1:04:56.Ireland’s Michael MacDiarmad a has a PB of 1:09:09, set on a net uphill course in Waterford. He came third in the Victoria 8K in 2009 and has been a member of the Irish national team for the past five years competing in cross-country, track and road races. John Ricardi, from Indiana, has a PB of 1:09:04 set at 4,800 ft altitude at the Pocatello Marathon – a course record by seven minutes. Other top seeded runners include Josiah Price from Olympia, WA with a PB of 1:08:17; Jeremiah Johnston, an up-and-coming runner from Mission, BC, hoping to run 1:08; and local Masters runner Craig Odermatt, who came second in the 2011 Island Race Series, and recently ran a 1:11.

The women’s Half Marathon field features some great champions including two Olympians and the current record holder Marilyn Arsenault (1:15:39). Joining her is two-time Olympian Kathy Butler who has a PB of 1:11:05 (Philadelphia Distance Run, 2006). The Canadian/British citizen has several national records from both countries and has set herself a goal of 1:15 this weekend.Calgary’s Lisa Harvey is the defending champion – she won last year in 1:18:34. The 1992 Olympian has a PB of 1:15 from the Edmonton Half Marathon in 2005.Britain’s Mary Wilkinson recently won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships and has a PB of 1:15:36. Rounding off the top seeds are Port Moody’s Natasha Wodak, who leads the BC rankings this year in 1:17:16 and who placed second in the Victoria 8K last year, second in the TC10K, and third in the Vancouver Sun Run; and a Victoria favourite, Lucy Smith. The 19-time Canadian champion has a PB of 1:14.

The 8K Road Race will also feature some competitive runners. Jerry Ziak is a 2:17 marathon runner and was 4^th overall at the Canadian 10k Championships. Vancouver Masters runner Kevin O’Connor has run a 25:41 8K and a 31:41 10K this year. Triathlete Kyle Jones has had a great year winning three ITU events and placing second in the Canadian Nationals. Calgary Masters runner and Olympian Paul McCloy will also be a threat if he continues his current form.

The women’s field is led by Canadian international Hilary Stellingwerff, a recent transplant from Switzerland. She was ranked ninth in the world for the mile in 2007. Becky Woods is a top young Irish athlete, placing second in the 5000m at the European Cup in Belgrade. Melissa Ross placed second in the 2011 Island Race Series, and competed on the winning Canadian team in the World Mountain Running Championships. Gillian Gook and Melanie McQuaid will also be strong contenders. 

There is $37,000 available in prize money and incentive bonus with $3,000 each going to the top male and female, and a $5,000 bonus for any Canadian that breaks the men’s or women’s course record.

Registration is still open for all events with late entries being accepted at the Race Expo, at the Victoria Conference Centre, from 3:00pm – 7:30pm on Friday, October 7, and 9:00am – 6:00pm on Saturday, October 8. There is no race day registration. To date the Marathon has 2,062 registrants; the Half Marathon has 5,930; the 8K Road Race has 2,527, and the Thrifty Foods Kids Run & Marathon is at 614.  For more details, visit www.runvictoriamarathon.com.

Marathon mixes exercise, entertainment

By Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun

A new marathon race, patterned in part after the hugely successful series of rock ‘n’ roll marathons in the U.S., will be run in Surrey next year on Sunday, Sept. 30.

The Surrey International World Music Marathon will feature what organizers are calling ‘Cultural Music Miles’ with live music performances at each kilometre of the 42.2km route, which will run past Bear Creek and Green Timbers parks along 108th and 88th avenues, 132nd Street and Fraser Highway.

Cultural organizations will showcase their art, music, costumes and food and beverage.

The event will also include a half-marathon, a kids fun run and a 5K Concert Run on the Saturday night with a finish line concert featuring recording artists to be announced later.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Marathon+mixes+exercise+entertainment/5475770/story.html#ixzz1ZNPJnd1z

Kajaks Track Rascals Featured on CTV Perry’s Prospects

Watch the Video Click: HERE 

The Richmond Kajaks T&F Club Track Rascals were featured on the CTV program, Perry’s Prospects on Thursday, Sept 22, 2011. RJT NCCP Certified Instructors Avril Douglas and Alexa Loo were shown leading the Track Rascals group through some RJT and beginner Track & Field activities.

For more information on how to get a Track Rascals program started in your club, please contact Taunya Geelhoed at taunya.geelhoed@bcathletics.org

Throws future lands in Kamloops

By Marty Hastings, Kamloops This Week

The River City’s track and field scene, as it looks today, is like something out of a Scorsese classic.

Three young, potential-filled athletes — shot-putter Taryn Suttie, 20, and hammer throwers Spencer Prince, 18, and Adam Keenan, 17 —  have decided to train full-time at the Kamloops Track and Field Club (KTFC) and the National Throws Centre (NTC).

“They’re committed until the next Olympics,” said KTFC president Judy Armstrong. “It’s wonderful. We’re really pleased they decided to come here.”

Suttie, a Hanley, Sask., product, enjoyed three years of success at the University of Saskatchewan, where she earned a number of awards, including CIS field athlete of the year for 2011.

Prince, a Langley product, was a provincial high school champion and a junior national silver medallist in hammer throw in 2010.

Keenan, from Victoria, was a provincial high school champion, a junior national gold medallist and a Panamerican Junior Championship bronze medallist in 2011.

Read more: http://www.bclocalnews.com/sports/129771338.html

Armstrong will likely hoist prestigious trophy

Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops all but locked up the Diamond League’s shot put championship with a gold-medal performance at the Weltklasse Zurich meet on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound athlete finished first at the meet with a throw of 21.63 metres.

Americans Ryan Whitling and Reese Hoffa​ placed second and third, respectively, with throws of 21.52 and 21.39 metres.

Armstrong, 30, has 17 points in the Diamond League standings and needs only to attend the competition’s final meet in Brussels on Sept. 16 to claim first prize, which comes in the form of $40,000 US in prize money and a diamond-encrusted trophy worth about the same.

Vancouver Thunderbirds Track & Field Club Coach Announcement

The Vancouver Thunderbirds Track and Field Club is pleased to announce the appointment of James Buhlman as it Power/Speed and Multi Event Head Coach with effect from October 1st 2011. James’s appointment is as a result of an extensive North American search over the past few months and the cementing of a partnership with St. Georges School to provide coaching to their high school aged athletes.

James has recently finished a 15 month stint with Athletics PEI as the Technical Director. In his time there, athlete membership doubled, newly certified coaches on the island tripled and a number of new competitions were offered.

No stranger to coaching, James has coached a number of excellent athletes over a wide variety of events. James has developed top talent wherever he has coached. He has experience and accomplishments in throwing, hurdling, horizontal jumps and sprints; placing his athletes both on provincial and national teams.

James is an NCCP Learning Facilitator and enjoys teaching the sport of Athletics to all ages. This will be a full-time position for James.

Spartans Sign Victoria Pole Vaulter

Trinity Western University track and field coach Laurier Primeau is excited to announce the signing of pole vaulter and sprinter Alex Love  of Victoria, B.C.

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Love comes to the Spartans after winning a bronze medal in men’s pole vault at the 2011 B.C. High School Track and Field Championships where he had a personal best vault of 4.12m, a height that would have place him sixth at this year’s Canada West Track and Field Championships. In the process, the Oak Bay Secondary graduate also helped his school win both the men’s team title and the overall team championship with a seventh place finish in the decathlon (5240 points), a sixth place finish in the 4x400m relay (his team’s best time was 3:36.93), a 13th place finish in the long jump (his best jump was 6.06m) and a 13th place finish in the 110m hurdles (his best time was 17.60).

Love has posted a personal best of 11.80 in the 100m dash and was part of a 4x100m relay team that has posted a time of 43.58.

He also recently received the award for Juvenile Athlete at the Year from the Victoria Track and Field Club.

“Alex comes from one of the most decorated high school track and field programs in B.C.,” Primeau said. “As such, we know he already understands the expectations of excellence and team contribution that are required for success at the post-secondary level.  The fact he can help demonstrate those qualities to others is a huge asset to our young program as we try to establish our own identity in the CIS.  

Read more: http://www.twu.ca/athletics/cc-track/news-release/2011-12/2011-08-17-alex-love.html