This weekend, Thursday June 20th to Sunday June 23rd, is the Canadian Track and Field Championships held in Moncton, New Brunswick. Four London Runner Distance Club athletes will be competing at the Canadian Championships ranging from the 800m to the 10,000m. These athletes include: Kyle O’neill, Ben Procter, Aaron Hendrikx and Leslie Sexton. Ryan Noel-Hodge of the McGill Olympic Club and LRDC training partner will also be competing at the Canadian Championships.
On the first day of competition, Ben Procter will compete in the qualifying round of the Men’s 1500m. Procter will look to qualify on to the semi-finals of the Men’s 1500m on the second day of competition. Procter has lots of confidence heading into the Canadian Championships:
“I'm ready. Confidence is high and I'm very excited. I definitely expect to make the semis in the 1500 and hope to be competitive there. Show time baby!”
The second event for London Runner athletes on the first day of competition is the 10,000m. Leslie Sexton will battle with just one other in the Woman’s 10,000m. Sexton is doing the distance double of the 10,000m and the 5,000m and feels ready for the double at the Canadian Championships:
“Back in May I tried doubling back with a tough workout two days after a race to simulate that my body would go through at the championships and I think I handled it very well.” Said Sexton, “It helps that the 10,000m is first, so I can run to qualify for the Francophone Games and then race with whatever I have left in the 5,000m.”
Ryan Noel-Hodge, a training partner with London Runner, and Kyle O’neill will compete in the Men’s 10,000m in a much more competitive field than the Men’s 10,000m has seen in a few years. O’neill is ranked fifth and Noel-Hodge is ranked seventh going into the race. This will be O’neill’s sixth consecutive appearance at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.
“I’m excited to get on the line with a couple of Olympians. I’ll look to get in there with the second group of guys.” Said O’neill looking forward to tomorrow evenings 10,000m.
On the third day of competition, Aaron Hendrikx and Ryan Noel-Hodge will compete in the Men’s 5,000m and Leslie Sexton will compete in the Woman’s 5,000m. Hendrikx, Noel-Hodge and Sexton have each ran personal best times for the 5,000m event this season. Hendrikx is the only one of the three not doubling at this year’s Canadian Championships.
“I am confident going into the race this Saturday, training has been going well and consistent so I feel ready to go. It is good to see lots of guys in the race so I’m excited to mix it up in there!” says Hendrikx going into Saturday’s race.
The London Runner crew at this year’s Canadian Track and Field Championships is confidant and ready to compete. Visit the Canadian Track and Field Championships website to follow LRDC in the Live Results and Live Video.
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