52 athletes will sport the Maple Leaf in Doha Sept. 27 to Oct. 6
Team list updated on Wednesday, Sept. 11
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the 52 athletes who have been selected to represent Canada at the 2019 IAAF World Championships taking place in Doha, Qatar, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6. All events will be held at Doha’s Khalifa Stadium with the exception of the marathon and race walk that will take place at Doha Croniche and will see athletes run along the Doha Bay and the city’s seafront.
The team is comprised of 25 men and 27 women, with 29 athletes returning from the 2017 World Championships team that finished 14th on the IAAF Placing Table with 30 points (two fifth, five sixth, two seventh and three eighth place finishes), produced two Canadian records (Mohammed Ahmed and Geneviève Lalonde), three personal bests, and 10 season’s best performances. The Canadian contingent heading to Doha will compete in 31 out of 49 events, with the 3,000-metre steeplechase featuring the most Canadian entries (three men and three women).
“Having some veterans, along with rookies, is part of the tapestry of our sport; it bodes well. When you look back at 2017, the performance as a whole was lacking for various reasons,” said Head Coach Glenroy Gilbert. “We are looking for a better result this year, but the challenges will be there. In Doha, the challenges will be the heat and the time zone, but I think we’ve done a good job trying to mitigate those situations for our athletes. I’m expecting that our team will be prepared and ready to perform when they arrive in Doha.”
Performance on demand and being able to produce results, such as seasonal bests, personal bests, Top 8 placings and podium finishes, at major international competitions is something that is communicated to each National Team. An athlete’s ability to execute is something Gilbert and Athletics Canada’s high-performance team looks for at every single event.
“In Doha, we could see a number of athletes on the podium or within striking distance,” said Gilbert. “Aaron Brown has shown he’s in good form in the 100- and 200-metres, as is Andre De Grasse. Alysha Newman is right up there, especially after her performance at the Diamond League meet in Paris, as is Brittany Crew and Gabriela DeBues-Stafford. Mohammed Ahmed is fit and has dropped some big performances, while the decathlon duo of Damian Warner and Pierce LePage is going to be exceptional. Not to mention our mixed 4x400-metre relay team that medalled at the IAAF World Relays, as well as the 4x400-metre women.”
In the midst of a strong outdoor season, 11 Canadians find themselves in the Top 10 on the IAAF World Rankings List (as of Aug. 27, 2019), which is a combination of an athlete’s measured results and their placing during competitions.
Canadian athletes ranked in the Top 10:
Damian Warner – Men’s decathlon (2nd)
Aaron Brown – Men’s 200m (3rd)
Brandon McBride – Men’s 800m (3rd)
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford – Women’s 1,500 (4th)
Alysha Newman – Women’s pole vault (5th)
Andre De Grasse – Men’s 200m (5th), men’s 100m (8th)
Mohammed Ahmed – Men’s 10,000m (6th)
Pierce LePage – Men’s decathlon (7th)
Crystal Emmanuel – Women’s 200m (9th)
Michael Mason – Men’s high jump (9th)
Brittany Crew – Women’s shot put (10th)
After securing his berth to the 2019 World Championship with double gold at the 2019 Canadian Track & Field Championships, sprinter Aaron Brown took a moment to reflect on his season and how it has prepared him for Doha. “I really wanted to build off of my 2018 campaign and use that momentum to be even better in 2019. It’s been a great year thus far, but I have to stay focused and be ready, both physically and mentally, to peak at the end of the season,” said Brown. “The World Championships have been the focal point of the season. Everything leading up to this point has been good preparation to go against the world’s best. In Doha I’m looking to challenge for podium spots, which would give me ultimate confidence going into 2020. Moreover, I’m looking for consistent performances with great execution.”
Natasha Wodak, who was named to the team in June alongside Mohammed Ahmed in the 10,000-metres and racewalkers Mathieu Bilodeau, Evan Dunfee and Rachel Seaman, sports a shiny new Pan American Games gold medal and Games record in the 10,000-metres and has had a year to remember. The 37-year-old captured Canadian titles in the 10K road race and 10,000-metres, and won three road races on the west coast.
“It has been a whirlwind of a season that’s for sure. We have been going hard since January, racing almost every month,” said Wodak. “It has been a lot, but we have been very careful about taking time to properly recover from big races. This has been the key to staying healthy and performing well when it counts. I am well prepared for the World Championships, especially after a successful Pan American Games 10,000-metres. I want to test my limits in Doha and take chances. I know I am capable of finishing in the Top 12, so I need to be confident and brave. I want to walk away from Doha knowing I gave it my all. If I can compete well, it will help build my confidence going into Tokyo.”
Prior to the Championships getting underway in Doha, Canadian athletes will have the opportunity to take part in two training camps – one in St. Moritz, Switzerland, that will help athletes adjust to the altitude, the other in Barcelona, Spain, where the emphasis will be on adjusting to the heat that is certain to greet the team in Doha.
“Prior to all global events we implement contemporary approaches to maximize championship performance through our pre-event training camps,” said Athletics Canada’s Sports Science Sports Medicine and Innovation Lead, Dr. Trent Stellingwerff. “This includes considerations around environmental conditions, time zones, travel fatigue and optimal training camp monitoring. In advance of the World Championships, Athletics Canada and VPXL.NET will implement an altitude training camp option, as well as warm/hot weather training camp to allow athletes to optimally acclimate and be ready to perform in Doha.”
Representing Canada on the World stage is not something that Canadian athletes take for granted. “It’s always an honour being able to represent Canada and not something that I take for granted. The energy is different at a World Championships, because you know this is the cream of the crop. You’re literally going up against the best the world has to offer with no country or age restrictions,” said Brown. “We all recognize the magnitude of competition at this level and want to use this platform to prove ourselves.”
“Besides the Olympic Games this is the biggest competition we have in track and field. It is a privilege to be on any Canadian Team, but especially the big ones,” added Wodak. “It is incredible to wear the Team Canada uniform. I am so proud to represent Canada, the best country in the world, and feel very grateful to wear the red and white.”
Team Canada at the 2019 IAAF World Championships:
Athletes | ||||
Name | Event(s) | Hometown | Personal Coach | Club |
Kelsie Ahbe* | Women's pole vault | Toronto, Ont. | Jim Bemiler | Unattached |
Mohammed Ahmed* | Men's 5000m, 10,000m | St. Catharine's, Ont. | Jerry Schumacher | NIKE Bowerman Track Club |
Marco Arop | Men's 800m | Edmonton, Alta. | Ron Thompson | Voleo Athletics |
Maria Bernard* | Women's 3000m steeplechase | Calgary, Alta. | Mike Van Tighem | University of Calgary Athletics Club |
Mathieu Bilodeau* | Men's 50km race walk | Canmore, Alta. | David Gagnon | Unattached |
Jerome Blake | Men's 4x100m relay | Vancouver, B.C. | Tara Self | Coquitlam Cheetahs Track and Field Club |
Bismark Boateng | Men's 4x100m relay | Toronto, Ont. | Charles Allen | Unattached |
Aaron Brown* | Men's 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay | Toronto, Ont. | Dennis Mitchell | Phoenix Athletics |
Alicia Brown | Women's 4x400m relay / Mixed 4x400m relay | Ottawa, Ont. | Bob Westman | University of Toronto Track Club |
Lindsey Butterworth* | Women's 800m | North Vancouver, B.C. | Brit Townsend | Coastal Track Club |
Rachel Cliff* | Women's 5000m | Vancouver, B.C. | Richard Lee | Mile2Marathon |
Austin Cole | Mixed 4x400m relay | Sherwood Park, Alta. | Rob Fisher | Capital City Track Club |
Brittany Crew* | Women's shot put | Toronto, Ont. | Richard Parkinson | SISU Throws Club |
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford* | Women's 1500m | Toronto, Ont. | Andy Young | University of Toronto Track Club |
Berhanu Degefa | Men's marathon | Toronto, Ont. | Paul Poce | Toronto Olympic Club |
Andre De Grasse | Men's 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay | Markham, Ont. | Rana Reider | Speed Academy Athletics Club |
Evan Dunfee* | Men's 20km race walk, 50km race walk | Richmond, B.C. | Gerald Dragomir | Race Walk West |
Crystal Emmanuel* | Women's 100m, 200m | Toronto, Ont. | Charles Allen | Flying Angels Track & Field Academy |
John Gay | Men's 3000m steeplechase | Vancouver, B.C. | Chris Johnson | Vancouver Thunderbirds |
Phylicia George* | Women's 100m hurdles | Markham, Ont. | Darryl Woodson | Flying Angels Track & Field Academy |
Liz Gleadle* | Women's javelin | Vancouver, B.C. | Laurier Primeau | Vancouver Thunderbirds Track and Field Club |
Sasha Gollish | Women's marathon | Toronto, Ont. | Michael Sherar | University of Toronto Track Club |
Matthew Hughes* | Men's 3000m steeplechase | Oshawa, Ont. | Dave Reid | Unattached |
Justyn Knight* | Men's 5000m | Toronto, Ont. | Chris Fox | Reebok Boston Track Club |
Geneviève Lalonde* | Women's 3000m steeplechase | Moncton, N.B. | Dave Scott-Thomas | Speed River Track and Field Club |
Pierce LePage | Men's decathlon | Whitby, Ont. | Gregory Portnoy | Unattached |
Django Lovett | Men's high jump | Surrey, B.C. | Zbigniew Szelagowicz | Kajaks Track and Field Club |
John Mason | Men's marathon | Drumbo, Ont. | Dave Scott-Thomas | Speed River Track and Field |
Michael Mason* | Men's high jump | Nanoose Bay, B.C. | Jeff Huntoon | Nanaimo Track and Field Club |
Brandon McBride* | Men's 800m | Windsor, Ont. | Kurt Downes | Border City Athletics Club |
Sarah Mitton | Women's shot put | Brooklyn, N.S. | Richard Parkinson | SISU Throws Club |
Carline Muir* | Women's 4x400m relay / Mixed 4x400m relay | Toronto, Ont. | Jack Borlee | Unattached |
Melanie Myrand | Women's marathon | Saint Geneviève, Que. | John Lofranco | Athlétisme Ville-Marie |
Tim Nedow* | Men's shot put | Brockville, Ont. | Darrin Reesal | Ottawa Lions Track & Field Club |
Alysha Newman* | Women's pole vault | Delaware, Ont. | Doug Wood | Bolton Pole Vault |
Jessica O'Connell* | Women's 5000m | Calgary, Alta. | Mike Van Tighem | University of Calgary Athletics Club |
Philip Osei | Men's 400m, Mixed 4x400m relay | Toronto, Ont. | Jason Kerr | Unattached |
Madeline Price | Women's 400m, 4x400m relay / Mixed 4x400m relay | Toronto, Ont. | Mark Mueller | Unattached |
Brendon Rodney* | Men's 200m, 4x100m relay | Etobicoke, Ont. | Maurice Wilson | Unattached |
Rachel Seaman | Women's 20km race walk | Peterborough, Ont. | Tim Seaman | Peterborough Legion Track Club |
Andrea Seccafien* | Women's 5000m | Guelph, Ont. | Nic Bideau | Monarch Athletics Club |
Ryan Smeeton | Men's 3000m steeplechase | Calgary, Alta. | Dave Smith | Unattached |
Gavin Smellie* | Men's 4x100m relay | Brampton, Ont. | Milt Ottey | Flying Angels Track & Field Academy |
Maya Stephens | Women's 4x400m relay / Mixed 4x400m relay | Toronto, Ont. | Aliann Pompey | Unattached |
Aiyanna Stiverne* | Women's 400m, 4x400m relay / Mixed 4x400m relay | Laval, Que. | Ronald Morency | Unattached |
Katherine-Jessica Surin | Women's 4x400m relay / Mixed 4x400m relay | Montreal, Que. | Nicolas Harel | Corsaire-Chaparal |
Lyndsay Tessier | Women's marathon | Toronto, Ont. | Steve Boyd | Physi-KULT |
Graeme Thompson | Mixed 4x400m relay | Guelph, Ont. | Jason Kerr | Speed River Track and Field Club |
Damian Warner* | Men's decathlon | London, Ont. | Gar Leyshon | Unattached |
Sage Watson* | Women's 400m hurdles, 4x400m relay / Mixed 4x400m relay | Medicine Hat, Alta. | Fred Harvey | Unattached |
Natasha Wodak* | Women's 10,000m | North Vancouver, B.C. | Lynn Kanuka | Prairie Inn Harriers |
Regan Yee | Women's 3000m steeplechase | South Hazelton, B.C. | Mark Bomba | Langley Mustangs Track and Field Club |
Staff | ||||
Name | Role | Hometown | ||
Glenroy Gilbert | Team Head Coach | Ottawa, Ont. | ||
Simon Nathan | Team Leader | Ottawa, Ont. | ||
Jessica Scarlato | Team Manager | Richmond Hill, Ont. | ||
Nicole Clarke | Assistant Team Manager | Kingston, Ont. | ||
Charles Allen | Team Coach | Toronto, Ont. | ||
Kurt Downes | Team Coach | Windsor, Ont. | ||
Gerry Dragomir | Team Coach | Vancouver, B.C. | ||
Geoff Harris | Team Coach | Halifax, N.S. | ||
Heather Hennigar | Team Coach | Victoria, B.C. | ||
Jeff Huntoon | Team Coach | Toronto, Ont. | ||
Richard Parkinson | Team Coach | Stouffville, Ont. | ||
Larry Steinke | Team Coach | Lethbridge, Alta. | ||
Doug Wood | Team Coach | London, Ont. | ||
Trent Stellingwerff | Team IST Lead and Physiologist | Victoria, B.C. | ||
Andrea Stephen | Team Physiotherapist | Toronto, Ont. | ||
Marilou Lamy | Team Physiotherapist | North Vancouver, B.C. | ||
Dave Zelibka | Team Physiotherapist | London, Ont. | ||
Paddy McCluskey | Team Physician | Victoria, B.C. | ||
Danielle Chow-Leong | Team Massage Therapist | Toronto, Ont. | ||
Garfield Crooks | Team Massage Therapist | Vancouver, B.C. | ||
Dr. Simon Pearson | Team Chiropractor | Victoria, B.C. | ||
Dr. Duane Smith | Team Chiropractor | Ottawa, Ont. | ||
Dana Way | Team Biomechanist | Winnipeg Beach, Man. | ||
Dr. Penny Werthner | Team Mental Performance | Calgary, Alta. | ||
Caroline Sharp | Team Media Attaché | Ottawa, Ont. |
*Represented Canada at the 2017 IAAF World Championships
Important links:
- Official website of the 2019 IAAF World Championships
- Timetable by day
- CBCSports.ca broadcast schedule
- Entry standards
- Khalifa International Stadium – Stats and Facts
- Historical results
For more information, please contact:
Amanda Nigh
Manager, Communications and Marketing
amanda.nigh@athletics.ca
Caroline Sharp
Media Attaché, Team Canada – IAAF World Championships
caroline.sharp@athletics.ca