The London Runner crew had a great weekend at the Canadian Track and Field Championships this past weekend in Moncton, New Brunswick. Four athletes from the London Runner training group placed top-6 at the Championship! This years Canadian Championships marks the first time the London Runner Distance Club has had two medals at the event. Leslie Sexton got silver in the Women's 10,000m race and Aaron Hendrikx got the bronze medal in the Men’s 5,000m race.

Ben Procter kicked off the Canadian Championships for the London Runner Distance Club by winning his qualifying section and qualifying onto the semi-finals in the Men’s 1500m. Kyle O’Neill and Ryan Noel-Hodge were next up in the Men’s 10,000m. In a tactical race, Noel-Hodge was able to respond to a big move that broke the middle of the field apart in the later stages of the race. Noel-Hodge placed fifth with a strong finish and a personal best of 30:41.97 and O’Neill placed sixth in 31:12.94. Leslie Sexton ran a tough race running nearly the whole race on her own and finishing second in 34:50.17. 

Two days later Sexton ran the Women’s 5,000m, placing seventh on tired legs in 16:45.77. After the race, Leslie commented that she would just focus on one event in future years. Aaron Hendrikx had an outstanding showing in the Men’s 5,000m by taking the bronze in a very competitive field with a time of 14:13.63. Hendrikx was only about two seconds off of his personal best for the event in a tactical race that had a very slow start and a fast finish that saw second to fourth only 0.12 seconds apart. 

Next up on the track for London Runner athletes are the last two Runners’ Choice London Distance Series meets on July 5^th, 1500m Night, and July 7^th, Forest City 5k. 1500m Night is the most anticipated and largest meet of the series.

This weekend, Thursday June 20^th to Sunday June 23^rd, 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.

The number of competitors at this year’s Trackie Mania was up from the 2012 edition (Roberts Meet of Champions), as the Runners’ Choice London Distance Series continues to grow in its ninth year.

In the fast section of Men’s 1500m, the field fell a few metres behind the pacer and went through 800m a couple seconds slower than planned. Ryan Noel-Hodge (McGill Olympic Club) made the first move with just over 400m to go, Joseph Boland (Running Room A.C. Ontario) and Ben Procter (London Runner) responded to Noel-Hodge’s early move. Procter was able to hold on the best down the finishing straight and took his fourth straight victory of the year in 3:56.28; Boland took second in 3:56.95 and Noel-Hodge third in 3:57.24.

The woman’s 3000m was paced on schedule for 6:30 at 2,000m. Madeline MacDonald (University of Toronto T.C.) was able to pick up the pace in the last 1,000m to take the win in 9:41.91. MacDonald achieved the Pan-American Junior standard of 9:50 with her effort. Laura Desjardins (University of Toronto T.C.) took second in 9:54.52 and Clara Langley took third in 10:06.22.

Ryan Noel-Hodge (McGill Olympic Club) came back an hour after running his 1500m to pace the fast section of the Men’s 3000m. Noel-Hodge paced the race on his prescribed pace of 3:24 through 1200m and lead the race just past 1500m. Josh Bolton (Brantford TFC) had a strong last lap pulling away from Kyle O’niell (London Runner) in the last 200m and taking the win in 8:27.69, Jeff Costen had a strong last 200m to take second in 8:29.99 and Kyle O’niell held on for third in 8:30.99.

Full Trackie Mania results are available on the Runners’ Choice London Distance Series website. RCLDS and Trackie Mania T-shirts are still available for purchase, check the Trackie Website for details!

Next up for a few London Runner athletes is the Indianapolis American Milers Series on Wednesday, June 12. Ben Procter will be competing in the 800m event while Leslie Sexton and Aaron Hendrikx will be racing their first 1500m races of this outdoor season.

The next event in the 2013 RCLDS series is the 1500m Night taking place on Friday July 5. Hence the name, 1500m Night contains only the 1500m event and is the most popular and largest event of the Runners’ Choice London Distance Series. Just a couple days after 1500m Night will be the Forest City 5k. The Forest City 5k will be the last event of the RCLDS series on July 7. 

Trackie Mania is the third meet of this years Runners’ Choice London Distance Series starting tomorrow, June 9, at 7:30pm at the TD Waterhouse stadium. Events will include the 1500m and 3000m races.

The fast section of the Men’s 1500m will be paced through 800m by local London Runner athlete Aaron Hendrikx. Ben Procter (London Runner) and Joseph Boland (Running Room Athletic Club Ontario) are both the top seeds going into the race with a 3:55.00 seedtime.  10,000m and 5,000m specialist Ryan Noel-Hodge (McGill Olympic Club), also training with local London Runner, is stepping down in distance and is sure to challenge Procter and Boland for the victory.

The Woman’s 3000m will be paced by Leslie Sexton (London Runner), leading the race through 2000m. Madeline MacDonald (University of Toronto T.C.), who competed in the Junior race at this past years World Cross Country Championships in Poland, is the top seed with a 9:46.00. Laura Desjardin’s (University of Toronto T.C.) and Amanda Truelove (London Western) are seeded close behind in 9:50.00. With Sexton’s pacing expect many women to get after a time under 10 minutes for the 3000m event.

Ryan Noel-Hodge (McGill Olympic Club) will come back after racing the 1500 earlier in the evening to pace the early portion the top section of the Men’s 3000m. Noel-Hodge will aim to get through 1200m at 8:30 pace. The top end of the race should be very close with Josh Bolton (Brantford T.C.) seeded at 8:29.00, Kyle O’neill (London Runner) at 8:30.00 and Jeff Costen at 8:33.00.

Trackie.Inc is one of Canada’s top Athletics websites, updating Canadian’s on Athletics in Canada and around the World. Trackie is giving away free Trackie Mania T-shirts, to enter the contest visit the Trackie Website or watch the ive stream.

Admission is free to all London Distance Series meets, which is sponsored Runners’ Choice London. The meet starts at 7:30pm and parking is free at the TD Waterhouse Stadium. Come out and watch some great track races!