The race to the finish line just got quicker.
The Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic unveiled its schedule for the 35th edition, with the event expanding to two days for the first time.
With an additional day, the Jerome Classic will have a major element to highlight in the form of the China-Canada Team Sprint Challenge.
The 10-event dual meet between the two nations, running June 26 and 27 at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium, will be incorporated with the regular feast of races and field events.
“This is the 35th year of the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic, and the Achilles Track and Field Society is pleased to return to historic Swangard Stadium after the million-dollar renovation to what many consider to be the best facility for our sport in Canada,” said Achilles president Doug Clement.
“Most significant is (the) initiation of friendly competition between Canada and China for the Pacific World Cup in this 2018 Year of Tourism as world attention swings to the Asia Pacific region.”
Last year, the competition moved to Coquitlam due to the track renovation work at Swangard. Burnaby had a new track installed at a cost of nearly one-million dollars.
The two-day, two-country event will spotlight both teams’ star talent, both men and women, who will compete in the 100-, 200- and 400-metre races, as well as the 4x100 and 4x400m relays. Two of the world’s fastest men are China’s Bingtan Su and Zhenye Xie, who placed second (6.42 seconds) and fourth (6.52 second) respectively in the 60m final at the recent World Indoor championships in Birmingham, England. Su’s time established a new Asian record.
Both Glenroy Gilbert, Canada’s head coach, and Chinese officials in Beijing have said they hope to have tentative teams named by mid-April.
During its 35-year history, the Jerome Track Classic has seen many Olympic and World champions participate, and is Canada’s longest running track and field meet. These Olympic and World medalists include Donovan Bailey, Carl Lewis, Debbie Brill, Charmaine Crooks, Lynn Kanuka, John Walker, Ashton Eaton, Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Dylan Armstrong.
