With major sponsors Runners' Choice and New Balance back on board, the London Runner Athlete Assistance Program continues in 2012 with an expanded format that brings on two new athletes. Matt Suda, an elementary school teacher and UWO grad, brings strong Half Marathon credentials to the Local Tier program, as does newcomer Adam Stacey, founder of Trackie.ca and Trackie Group Inc. The continuation of the AAP includes an ongoing partnership with CBI Health, including an addition to the elite Physio team in Karen Gilbert.

The 5-member team will compete together at top London competitions, including the Downtown 5k road race and key meets within the Runners' Choice London Distance Series. Many of their goal races however, will see them travel the country and beyond. In March, Matt Suda travels to Virginia where he'll face stiff Half Marathon competition. Aaron Hendrikx will travel to Trinidad in March for the NACAC Cross Country Championships, after which he'll be the youngest member of the Canadian contingent at the World University Cross Country Championships, scheduled for April 14th in Poland. Two weeks later, Leslie Sexton will race Canada's top Half Marathoners at the Canadian Championships in Montreal. Other key competitions include the Canadian Track & Field Championships and Olympic Trials, taking place in Calgary at the end of June, and the Canadian Cross Country Championships, hosted in Vancouver at the end of November. Other highlights will include Aaron Hendrikx in pursuit of World Junior Track & Field Championships qualification and Canadian 5,000m Champion Leslie Sexton making her Marathon debut.

Fans and friends can follow Hendrikx, O'Neill, Sexton, Suda, and Stacey this year using Facebook and Twitter.