Athletics Canada selects four athletes to represent Canada at 2019 WPA U20 Championships

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the four athletes who have been selected to represented Canada at the 2019 WPA U20 Championships being held in the Swiss town of Nottwil. The aim of the event, which will take place between Aug. 1-4, is to provide the first step in the development pathway for young international class athletes towards regional and World Championships, as well as the Paralympic Games.

Similar to 2017, the event will be staged at Sport Arena, the venue that has hosted WPA Grand Prix events where Canadian sensation Brent Lakatos has set multiple Canadian and World records on the track.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our para U20 athletes to experience international competition within their own age class and within their own para classification,” said Carla Nicholls, Athletics Canada’s Paralympic Performance Lead. “The objective for this team is to ensure athletes have a positive international competitive experience, and learn how to manage lengthy travel, new environments and themselves to ensure the best possible performance. This is the future of para athletics and this opportunity is a priority to ensure these athletes achieve what they set out to do.”

Two years ago, Canada took part in the inaugural WPA U20 Championships, bringing home five medals (two gold, two silver and one bronze). With a smaller team heading to Nottwil this year, Nicholls knows surpassing 2017’s medal count will be difficult. “As we continue to build our Para Junior Development Program, our focus remains on athletes achieving seasonal and personal bests, in addition to Top 8 performances. Our team will be small this year due to the number of qualified athletes, therefore, improving our medal count will be difficult with a small team, but we will certainly keep an eye on our rankings.”

Canada’s young team will feature some new faces, including thrower Elizabeth Duff who recently set the Canadian F40 shot put record with a throw of 5.50 metres at the Desert Challenge Games last month. “I’m excited and honoured to represent Canada at the WPA U20 Championships,” said Duff. “I can’t wait to compete at this elite level with other para athletes of the same classification, not to mention those close to my age. Over the next six weeks, I plan to work hard to improve so I can throw a personal best in Nottwil.”

Representing Canada at the 2019 WPA U20 Championships will be:

Athletes

Name

Event

Personal Coach

Hometown

Club Affiliation

Michael Barber

T20 1500m

Bruce Deacon

Victoria, B.C.

Prairie Inn Harriers

Elizabeth Duff

F40 shot put

Kim Cousins

Fox Creek, Alta.

CALTAF

Jacob LeBlanc

T54 800m

Ron LeBlanc

Moncton, N.B.

Aetos Athletica

Andrew Livingstone

F41 shot put

Kim Cousins

Edmonton, Alta.

CALTAF

Staff

 

 

Name

Role

Hometown

Ueli Albert

Team Head Coach

Wolfville, N.S.

Ingrid Ruys

Team Manager

Sherwood Park, Alta.

Mark Gottfried

Team Physiotherapist

Victoria, B.C.

For more information on the 2019 WPA U20 Championships, visit www.paralympic.org/athletics.

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