OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the 15-member team (eight men and seven women) that has been selected to represent Canada at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships taking place from Aug.17-22 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Canadian team features 11 first-time National Team members. Abdullahi Hassan and Aiden Grout made their international debut in 2018 at the Jamaican U18 Invitational and Hassan, Izzy Goudros, Grout and Dylan Uhrich represented Canada at the 2019 NACAC U18 Championships. Together, they own six international medals (two gold, two silver and two bronze).

Heading into the World Championships, two Canadian athletes are ranked within the Top 10 in the U20 World Athletics Rankings. Ethan Katzberg sits fourth in the men’s hammer throw, while Hassan is eighth in the men’s 800 metres.

This year more than ever, the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships will prove to be an integral steppingstone for Canadian athletes to pursue their goals of qualifying, competing and medalling at future World Championships and Olympic Games. For many on the team, their entire 2020 campaign was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are heading to Kenya with a shortened 2021 season under their belts. Obtaining a personal best, Top 8 – even Top 16 – performance or landing on the podium will certainly pay dividends as they move into the senior ranks.

“We know that training and competition has been limited this past year so the fact that these athletes have surpassed the selection standards is a testament to the hard work of the athletes, coaches and their communities,” said Head Coach Jason Reindl. “The World U20 Championships is a huge event on the pathway towards international senior teams. If we look at Camryn Rogers and Lauren Gale who were both members of the 2018 U20 team and are now in Tokyo, it is a great indicator of international senior opportunities.”

Like many sporting events this year, due to COVID-19 protocols, Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani will be spectator-free to protect the athletes, coaches and support personnel. The event will operate inside a ‘bubble’ that limits access to the competition venue and team hotel. As an added health and safety measure, all Team Canada members (athletes and staff) have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The organization’s primary objective is to protect the health and safety of all participants and felt this was a necessary step in line with available government and medical advice at the time of team selection.

“Covid-19 continues to impact day-to-day activities, and this Championship will be no different. But thanks to safety protocols and detailed planning we are confident that our ability to perform will be minimally impacted,” added Reindl. “Despite the circumstances, I want athletes to trust the training of their coaches back home and the achievements it took to get there. I will remind them to be patient and to remember that all of the athletes in Nairobi are dealing with the same situational factors.”

Canada at the 2018 World Athletics U20 Championships:

Fifteen Canadian athletes competed in a final, recording eight Top 8 finishes at the 2018 World Athletics U20 Championships (then IAAF) in Tampere, Finland. The highlight for Team Canada came from then 19-year-old Camryn Rogers who landed on top of the podium in the women’s hammer throw, joining Mark Boswell (1996) and Michael Mason (2004) who both won U20 gold in high jump.

The women’s 4×400-metre relay team featuring Xahria Santiago, Aurora Rynda, Ashlan Best and Sharelle Samuel, crossed the finish line fourth in 3:31.93, 3-100th of a second from the bronze medal and more than four seconds faster than their qualifying time of 3:36.14.

Khamal Stewart-Baynes finished sixth in the men’s 400 metres, Anastas Eliopoulos (men’s 110-metre hurdles), Kendra Leger (women’s 100-metre hurdles) and Myles Misener-Daly (men’s 400 metres) were seventh in their respective events, while Best (women’s 400 metres) and Santiago (women’s 400-metre hurdles) crossed the finish line eighth in their individual races.

Team Canada for the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships:

Athletes:

• Heather Abadie (Port Elgin, Ont.) – Women’s pole vault
• Ella Clayton (Calgary, Alta.) – Women’s 400 metres
• Matti Erickson (Nelson, B.C.) – Men’s 800 metres
• Isabella (Izzy) Goudros (Toronto, Ont.) – Women’s 100 metres and 200 metres
• Aiden Grout (Pitt Meadows, B.C.) – Men’s high jump
• Abdullahi Hassan (Scarborough, Ont.) – Men’s 800 metres
• Sydney Juszczyk (Kingsville, Ont.) – Women’s javelin throw
• Ethan Katzberg (Nanaimo, B.C.) – Men’s hammer throw
• Avery Pearson (Meadow Lake, Sask.) – Women’s 800 metres
• Michael Roth (St. Thomas, Ont.) – Men’s 200 metres and 400 metres
• Callan Saldutto (Welland, Ont.) – Men’s javelin throw
• Eniko Sara (Langley, B.C.) – Women’s javelin throw
• Almond Small (Toronto, Ont.) – Men’s 100 metres and 200 metres
• Savannah Sutherland (Borden, Sask.) – Women’s 200 metres, 400 metres and 400-metre hurdles
• Dylan Uhrich (Vancouver, B.C.) – Men’s 3000m steeplechase

Staff:

• Jason Reindl (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Head Coach
• James Cunningham (Toronto, Ont.) – Team Leader
• Nicole Clarke (Kingston, Ont.) – Team Manager
• Rashed Din (Montreal, Que.) – Coach
• Molly Killingbeck (Toronto, Ont.) – Coach
• Steve LeBlanc (Moncton, N.B.) – Coach
• Georgette Reed (Edmonton, Alta.) – Coach
• Andy Tough (Winnipeg, Man.) – Coach
• Ryan Shields (Calgary, Alta.) – Physician
• Carolyn Daubeny (Vancouver, B.C.) – Massage Therapist
• Mark Gottfried (Victoria, B.C.) – Physiotherapist

Members of the media looking to obtain accreditation for the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships, including accreditation as a remote journalist, are encouraged to click here for more information. The deadline to apply for accreditation is Tuesday, Aug. 3.

For more information on the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships, click here.

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