The 2020 track and field season was almost the season that wasn’t. It goes without saying that this year was marked by cancellations of events ranging from local fun runs, to USPORTS National Championships, to international competitions, to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For that reason, the 2020 Athletics Canada Awards will not be awarded. However, we wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the success stories authored by Canadian athletes on the track and in the field.

Thirty-two Canadian records were set this year. Many of these records came early in the year, smashing long-standing indoor records. Other records fell on the road, as Canadian distance runners put in long miles of training with few races to really go for it. Some athletes even etched their names in the Canadian record book multiple times.

We take this opportunity at year’s end to reflect on the year in athletics through the lens of the 32 Canadian records set during this abnormal year. We salute each and every one of these new record holders and invited some to put their unprecedented performances in context, while also keeping an eye towards the future.

Malindi Elmore: Women’s 25km (1:25:48), 30km, (1:42:53), marathon (2:24:50)

One race. Three records. Once Malindi Elmore passed the halfway mark of the Houston Marathon at the end of January, she started reeling in the fastest times ever recorded by Canadian distance runners. By the time she finished the race, taking third place overall, she had scored a trifecta of Canadian records.

“I focused on meticulous preparation for the race. Training went really well, and we spent a lot of time figuring out the right fuelling, hydration, pacing and race strategy plans. I went into the race feeling fit and confident, but also open-minded to various ways of executing the race. My mindset was to focus on executing a smart and strong race, and I was less focussed on what that outcome would be. I knew if I put it all together over the 42.2 kilometres, that I would have a result I was proud of. During the race, I continued to stay relaxed, patient and positive, and with about 10 kilometres remaining I started to feel competitive against the clock and other athletes, which motivated me to the end.”

“Obviously the 2021 Olympics is my main goal. Everything I do this year will be geared towards delivering the best performance possible on Aug. 7. My goal is to go into Tokyo ready to run even faster than in Houston. Obviously, climate will play a role, but the fitness will be strong.”

Elizabeth Duff: Women’s F40 shot put (5.81 metres)

A year after bringing home gold in the WPA U20 Championships, Elizabeth Duff was faced with few options for competition. Come September, she relished the chance to compete once again.

“I was attending my first meet since COVID-19 hit Canada. I had to make a six-hour drive away from home in order to attend this meet, with the excitement of not seeing my teammates in months in the back of my head. On the long drive the anticipation was building. I was finally able to throw competitively again. Once I got into the field, I was able to do my pre-competition routine of warming up with my playlist, which is mostly Disney songs.”

“My main goal for 2021 is to be able to compete at the international level in Dubai; however, my dream is to compete at the Paralympics in Tokyo.”

Justyn Knight: Men’s indoor 1500m (3:36.13)

Justyn Knight racked up a string of strong performances during the 2020 indoor season, culminating in his record-breaking run in February.

Running in the BU Last Chance Invitational, Knight crossed the finish line in the men’s 1500 metres in first place and the new owner of a Canadian record time of 3:36.13. That mark bettered Doug Consiglio’s previous record of 3:38.73 from 1986 and ranked as the third fastest time in the world this season.

“Setting the Canadian record in that race was very special for me. That race was designed to go fast, and it did not disappoint. We had great competitors in the race, so many that there was a little bit of tactics involved, but nonetheless still amounted to be a good run.”

“My goals in 2021 remain the same as my goals years prior. Work hard and try to be the best athlete I can be while winning races and having fun.”

Jasmyn McCulloch: Women’s F46 javelin throw (26.33m)

Jasmyn McCulloch is no stranger to having her name in the Canadian record books. Her record throw in September was more than a metre longer than her mark set in 2019. The road to that unprecedented javelin throw came, as it did for many, after a difficult time training in the midst of the pandemic.

“With COVID-19, this training season has been hard. However, it has given me time to understand my body better and what it needs to compete at the top of my game. During competitions, I usually get worked up and stressed out because of all of the standards, which this has affected me in the past. However, on the day of my record I told myself to forget about everything you can't control and focus on what you can. I trusted my body and when I heard the measurement, I couldn't believe it. It was an amazing feeling and I’m happy that I was able to share that moment with my coaches, teammates and family.”

Andrea Seccafien: Women’s 20km (1:06:05) and half marathon (1:09:38)

Natasha Wodak’s Canadian half marathon record was only two weeks old when Andrea Seccafien started the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon in Japan on Feb. 2. Just over an hour, nine and a half minutes later, that mark was replaced and Seccafien who took her place at the top of the all-time Canadian 20km and half marathon leaderboard.

“I was fortunate that there were some male pacers for another woman who was going for her national record, so I was able to tuck in with that group. That provided a very even pace, though much faster than I was planning to run, through 13 kilometres for me. After falling off that pace, I just had to grit my teeth, minimize the blow up and make it to the end.”

“My main goal is to make the Olympics in both the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres. I have already run the standard in the 5000 metres, but still need to run 31:25 in the 10,000 metres. At the Olympics, I hope to place in the Top 10 in both. I’m not sure what my season will look like yet, but hopefully I can get in some good races from 5000 metres to the half marathon.”

2020 Canadian Records

Athletics 

Men’s 5000m: Mohammed Ahmed (12:47.20; 10.07.20)

Men’s Indoor 1500m: Justyn Knight (3:36.13; 28.02.20)

Men’s 30km: Cameron Levins (1:31:44; 20.12.20 – pending ratification)

Men’s U23 Indoor 3000m: Kieran Lumb (7:45.50; 15.02.20)

Men’s U23 Indoor 60mH: Joey Daniels (7.77; 01.03.20)

Men’s U20 Indoor Long Jump: Scott Joseph (7.73m; 07.03.20)

Men’s U18 Indoor Triple Jump: Praise Aniamaka (15.00m; 22.02.20)

Men’s U18 Indoor Pentathlon: Emanuel Désilets (3,622 points; 29.02.20)

Men U18 Indoor Weight Throw (9.08kg): Josh Linington (23.73m; 20.12.20 – pending ratification)

Women’s Indoor 1500m: Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (4:00.80; 08.02.20)

Women’s Indoor Mile: Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (4:19:73; 08.02.20)

Women’s Indoor Shot Put: Brittany Crew (18.81m; 09.02.20)

Women’s Indoor 4x200m relay: University of Guelph (1:36.10; 22.02.20 – pending ratification)

Women’s 20,000m: Rachel Cliff (1:11:38.60; 07.11.20)

Women’s 1 hour: Rachel Cliff (16,872.45m; 07.11.20)

Women’s 20km: Andrea Seccafien (1:06:05; 02.02.20)

Women’s Half Marathon: Andrea Seccafien (1:09:38; 02.02.20)

Women’s 25km: Malindi Elmore (1:25:48; 19.01.20)

Women’s 30km: Malindi Elmore (1:42:53; 19.01.20)

Women’s Marathon: Malindi Elmore (2:24:50; 19.01.20)

Women’s U23 Indoor 4x200m relay: University of Guelph (1:36.10; 22.02.20 – pending ratification)

Women’s U23 1000m: Lucia Stafford (2:38.73; 02.08.20)

Women’s U23 Indoor 400m: Kyra Constantine (52.14; 14.02.20)

Women’s U23 Indoor 1000m: Lucia Stafford (2:39.28; 14.02.20)

Women’s U23 Indoor 1500m: Lucia Stafford (4:10.22; 01.02.20)

Women’s U23 Half Marathon: Branna MacDougall (1:11:42; 04.10.20 – pending ratification)

Women’s U18 Indoor Pole Vault: Jennifer Elizarov (4.01m; 15.02.20)

Women's U18 3000m Race Walk: Olivia Lundman (14:25.74; 17.10.20)

Para athletics

Men’s T37 5,000m: Liam Stanley (15:54.5; 11.12.20 – WR pending ratification)

Women’s F41 Discus Throw: Charlotte Bolton (24.24m; 03.10.20)

Women’s F55 Discus Throw: Sarah Mickey (21.77m; 27.09.20)

Women’s F46 Javelin Throw: Jasmyn McCulloch (26.33m; 12.09.20)

Women’s F40 Shot Put: Elizabeth Duff (5.81m; 12.09.20)

Women’s F41 Shot Put: Charlotte Bolton (7.04m; 12.09.20 and 03.10.20)