Athletics Canada was informed on Thursday morning that the NACAC (North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association) Half-Marathon Championships have been cancelled.

The event would have been the third of its kind, and was slated to take place in Varadero, Matanza, Cuba, on April 2. A team of six athletes had already been chosen to represent the country and notified of their selection. The Canadian contingent would have been coached by Sean Baynton, the University of Alberta head cross-country coach who led his men’s and women’s teams to top eight finishes at the 2022 U SPORTS Cross-Country Championships.

Canada’s women’s team would have fielded last year’s individual gold and silver medalists, Sasha Gollish and Laura Desjardins, along with Caroline Pomerleau, a physical education teacher with a personal best of 1:13:51.

The men’s team would have featured two 2020 Olympians in 2:09:51 marathoner Trevor Hofbauer, and 2:10:17 marathoner Ben Preisner. Justin Kent, who holds a personal best half-marathon time of 1:02:48, would have completed the three-man squad.

At last year’s championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, Canada bested four other countries and claimed top honours. The team of three men and three women, led by Gollish and Lee Wesselius of River Glade, N.B. claimed four of the six individual medals, and swept the women’s podium.

Athletics Canada is disappointed with the news. We wish to congratulate all athletes selected to the team, and will ensure they will receive national team kit.

2023 NACAC Half-Marathon Championships Roster

Athletes

Coaching Staff