Aaron Brown, Sage Watson and Canada’s relay teams look to secure a spot at World Championships

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the 22athletes (9men and 13women) who have been selected to represent Canada at the 2019 IAAF World Relays, the first global track event of the year, taking place in Yokohama, Japan, May 11-12. The two-day meet, in addition to a week-long training campin advance of the competition, will serve as a great opportunity for a number of Olympic hopefuls to experience the culture and conditions of Japan prior to Tokyo 2020.

For the first time in the event’s history, the 2019 IAAF World Relays will feature the same number of men’s, women’s and mixed events with the addition of the shuttle hurdles and the 2x2x400-metre relay, over two days of competition. Canada will be fielding the best possible teams in the 4x100-metre (men’s and women’s) and 4x400-metre (women’s and mixed relay)with the opportunity to qualify for the 2019 IAAF World Championships taking place in Doha, Qatar, this fall.

After winning gold in the men’s 4x200-metre in 2017 with a time of 1:19.42, the Canadian men will turn their focus to the 4x100-metre in Yokohama. “As a team we are looking to qualify for the World Championships by making the final in the 4x100-metre at World Relays first and foremost,” said Aaron Brown. “Making the final and winning a medal in Doha would mean a lot for the program. In years prior, we’ve seen what positive momentum a medal at the World Championships can bring. That would do wonders for us heading into 2020.”

When asked about the team’s season-opener at Florida Relays, Brown said “we felt good collectively as a group, but there are always things we can improve on. Any time you can get the stick around cleanly and come away with a win in a decent time early in the year is a good sign. We need to continue working on accelerating through the zone in order to make our passes deeper in the exchange zone.”

The women’s 4x400-metre relay team has been on the rise in recent years, with remarkable depth and talent at every leg. “This group of women has been developing since the 2015 World Championships when we made the final,” said Sage Watson. “Since then we have grown and added new individuals who are very talented. Every woman on the team is determined and wants to succeed; that’s what has been the game changer when it comes to our relay success. We are hungry for a medal and very competitive each time we step on the track as a group.”

Watson echoed Brown’s comments when asked what the team would like to accomplish in 2019. “At World Relays, our number one goal is to be on the podium and to qualify for the World Championships. This group has the ability to do that. Winning a medal in Doha would be amazing for this group and we are definitely capable of it. However, the most important thing this year is to be competitive and fast so we are ready in 2020 to bring home an Olympic medal.”

Together, Canadian athletes will be gunning for a share of the $1.19 million US prize pot and the Golden Baton, which is awarded to the team who tallies the most points across the two days of action.

Representing Canada at the 2019 IAAF World Relays:

*Member of Team Canada at the 2017 IAAF World Relays

For more information on the 2019 IAAF World Relays, click here.

Additional resources:

• 2019 timetable by day
• CBC Sports streaming schedule
• LOC website
• Past results and news