National Track League, a huge success

By CTVOlympics.ca

The first edition of the National Track League (NTL) wrapped up in Toronto on Wednesday with the crowning of the first ever NTL champions at the Toronto International Track + Field Games.  Each NTL winner took home a beautiful glass trophy and a cash prize of $4,000.  Final performance scores were tabulated and Dylan Armstrong from Kamloops, B.C., and Phylicia George of Markham, Ont., have been named top NTL athletes for 2011.

By way of the IAAF Points Table, the top five male and top five female NTL athletes were identified by calculating the average of the best two performances in one event held at NTL competitions.  The winners receive a cash prize of $5,000.  By way of Dylan Armstrong’s shot put performances of 21.36 metres in Victoria and 21.23 metres in Toronto he is the top male athlete with an average IAAF score of 1198.5 points.  In the women’s hurdles Phylicia George’s performances of 12.76 in Halifax and 12.87 in Toronto placed her first among the women with 1173.5 IAAF points.

Like an eager young sprinter in the blocks, the NTL seemed to get off to a shaky start when extreme weather conditions forced the cancellation of the Edmonton International.  The competition in Edmonton was slated as the first of five on the inaugural circuit.  After some minor alterations to the series scoring structure NTL did get off and running a few days later at the Harry Jerome International Track Classic in Vancouver, B.C.

Doug Clement, Meet Director of the Harry Jerome International Track Classic, speaks about the NTL impact on his competition. “26 World Championship standards, 46 personal and 70 seasonal best performances plus 5 new meet records by athletes from 16 countries I think says it all.”  Clement, who has been at the helm of the Harry Jerome since the first edition in 1983 adds, “In my opinion the National Track League has made a strong statement.  International competition can be held in Canada every summer preparing our athletes for the world stage.”

Once underway the series never looked back, with deep fields and great performances throughout, highlighted by 14 World Championship B standards, 12 World Championship A standards and one new Canadian record.

Alex Gardiner, Olympic Head Coach, talks about NTL’s role in Athletics Canada’s high performance program, “Support and enthusiasm for the NTL was beyond our expectations. Athletes and coaches were provided with an international calibre series that yielded outstanding results, showcased our sport, and exposed developing athletes to high performance competitions in our quest to prepare them for World Championships and Olympic Games.  Bravo and thanks to the meet organizers and our partners!”

The NTL was created to serve three core pillars of Athletics Canada’s strategic plan; athlete development, deliver good competitive opportunities on home soil, and enhance resources for athletics in Canada.  Early indications show that NTL is having an impact on these objectives; a solid foundation has been laid to support Canadian track and field for years to come.

Planning is already well underway for the 2012 National Track League circuit with first orders of business being selection of dates and identification of NTL disciplines.

For more information www.nationaltrackleague.ca

11-year old Madison Heisterman of Nanaimo, BC raced the Women’s Elite 800m event, Saturday, July 9th in the 5th meet of the 8-meet, Q’s Victoria Track Series. She won her age-group, placed 4th and bettered the BC provincial record at that distance for the 11-13 age-group. Myriam Bassett won the race in the time of 2:18.50, followed by Jenica Moore and bronze was taken by Caleigh Bachop.

In the main event, University of Victoria Vike, Clifford Childs ran his final race before the provincial championships by taking the lead from the gun and never relinguishing it. Childs set a new personal best by over 20 seconds on his way to the win finishing in 8:21.90 ahead of prerace favourite Trevor O’Brien (8:28.30) and fellow Vike teammate, Josh Clouthier who finished in 8:42.60.

In the opening race, Victoria’s Julien Marceau won for his first time by blasting through the 400m event in 61 seconds (61.40) winning by over 8 seconds. First female Michelle Rowsell finished in 1:16.60. In the second 400m section, Anton Rabien won handily with his time of 55.40. Jeanette Van Den Bulk won the women’s in 59.10 and finished 4th overall.

Full results are available at www.victoriatrackseries.ca/results/

Calling all women who can run at least 39:59 for 10000m (10k).

We have a Men’s Elite field assembling for the final meet of the season, now we are looking for a few women who may wish to race in spectacular Victoria.

A local coach has a few women interested in competing, now we need a few more to make it happen.

Late August is a great time for athletes who are training for a fall marathon or cross-country season to start racing longer distances, the August 27th date is timed perfectly to launch into the quality end of a training schedule aimed at a fall racing program.

The final meet of the 2011 Q’s Victoria Track Series happens on Saturday, August 27th at the Jack Wallace Memorial track at Oak Bay High School. Currently the events scheduled to happen are, Men’s Elite 10000m and All Comers (open-mixed) 5000m.

If you are interested or have potential athletes who may race, contact: info@victoriatrackseries.ca

Vote for the runner who wows you the most with their performance. That’s it! NO RULES, except you cannot vote for your self.

Email, info@victoriatrackseries.ca, indicate who you got. Vote after each meet. You could win some Q’s Victoria Track Series swag. Maurice Tarrant Performance Award Winner wins the big trophy featured in the video, plus a 2-night stay at the beautiful Sunrise Ridge Resort in Sunny Parksville.

2010 winner of the Maurice Tarrant Performance Award was non other than Maurice Tarrant with 4 Canadian and 1 BC age-group record in the 80-84 group.

So far for 2011, the 3-top leaders are:

Colin Dignum – 5 votes. For his Canadian age-group (45-49) 5000m record: 15:22.

Mark Pinckard – 3 votes. For his anchor leg in the breaking of the Canadian age-group record 50-54, 800m relay with teammates, Garth Campbell, Kevin Searle and Peter Holmes.

Vessy Heller – 3 votes. Her world record performance in the mile for 75-79 age-group, 7:47.

Results are updated for the 4 meets of 2011. Should you see any errors, please contact: info@victoriatrackseries.ca

There was some dated and conflicting information on the, ‘About Us’ page, which is now updated as of, 1:08PM, June 24, 2011.

More information to come however, mark your calendar….go ahead and walk over to your wall calendar or click on your Outlook calendar and add this event to the following date:

Sunday, August 28th

Sticky Wicket’s Maple Room – Strathcona Hotel 919 Douglas St. *No minors.

5:30 to 9:00 PM

The Q’s Victoria Track Series, Silent Auction and Awards Night. To benefit the Mustard Seed Food Bank.

Sunday June 19, 2011

Victoria, BC – The Q’s Victoria Track – 77 year old Helly Visser of Vancouver, BC smashed the 75-79 age-group World Mile Record at the 4th meet of The Q’s Victoria Track Series. She bested the previous record by 10 seconds in 7:47.

Visser said, “I recently ran 8:05 in Calgary at a meet there, the World Record is 7:57, I don’t know if I can do it, but I am going to try”. She did, she ran 7:47. The first lap was well ahead of pace and announcer Paul O’Callaghan got the crowd cheering for her and she hung onto the World Record pace throughout. Upon finishing she announced to the crowd, “and what a wonderful meet to achieve the record at”.

Colin Dignum also of Vancouver raced the Men’s Elite 5000m event and bettered the Canadian 45-59 age-group record from its previous time of 15:27, by 5 seconds, catching two-time Olympian Bruce Deacon in the final lap to finish in 15:22.
Colin Dignum had an “A” goal; taking down the Canadian Record of 15:27, his “B” goal was the provincial BC record of 15:38. He accomplished both easily. Colin ran the first few laps conservatively watching the runners ahead. Deacon, who led Dignum by as much as 50 metres became victim late in the race as Dignum saved his best for the final lap, to take the record and the two time Olympian.

Also, during the 5000m Men’s race, Trevor O’Brien continued his excellent comeback from injury by winning his 3rd of 3 races at the Q’s Victoria Track Series. Full results are at: www.victoriatrackseries.ca/results/

Other races were: 400m Open, 400m Women’s Elite, Open mile and 5000m Open, which was won by Laurence Coogan in 16:07.
The weather, for the fourth consecutive meet was outstanding with little to no wind, warm temperatures and sunny skies.
The fifth meet of the eight meet series happens again at the University of Victoria Track, Saturday, July 9th with the gun sounding at 6:30 PM. Athletes must sign in or be registered no later than 6:00 PM.

Sunday June 19, 2011
Victoria, BC – The Q’s Victoria Track – 77 year old Helly Visser of Vancouver, BC smashed the 75-79 age-group World Mile Record at the 4th meet of The Q’s Victoria Track Series. She bested the previous record by 10 seconds in 7:47.
Visser said, “I recently ran 8:05 in Calgary at a meet there, the World Record is 7:57, I don’t know if I can do it, but I am going to try”. She did, she ran 7:47. The first lap was well ahead of pace and announcer Paul O’Callaghan got the crowd cheering for her and she hung onto the World Record pace throughout. Upon finishing she announced to the crowd, “and what a wonderful meet to achieve the record at”.
Colin Dignum also of Vancouver raced the Men’s Elite 5000m event and bettered the Canadian 45-59 age-group record from its previous time of 15:27, by 5 seconds, catching two-time Olympian Bruce Deacon in the final lap to finish in 15:22.
Colin Dignum had an “A” goal; taking down the Canadian Record of 15:27, his “B” goal was the provincial BC record of 15:38. He accomplished both easily. Colin ran the first few laps conservatively watching the runners ahead. Deacon, who led Dignum by as much as 50 metres became victim late in the race as Dignum saved his best for the final lap, to take the record and the two time Olympian.
Also, during the 5000m Men’s race, Trevor O’Brien continued his excellent comeback from injury by winning his 3rd of 3 races at the Q’s Victoria Track Series. Full results are at: www.victoriatrackseries.ca/results/
Other races were: 400m Open, 400m Women’s Elite, Open mile and 5000m Open, which was won by Laurence Coogan in 16:07.
The weather, for the fourth consecutive meet was outstanding with little to no wind, warm temperatures and sunny skies.
The fifth meet of the eight meet series happens again at the University of Victoria Track, Saturday, July 9th with the gun sounding at 6:30 PM. Athletes must sign in or be registered no later than 6:00PM

77 year old Helly Visser of Vancouver, BC tonight, broke the world mile record for her age-group 75-79. The previous world best time was 7:57, Visser ran 7:47. Visser ran the first lap much faster than the pace required, then settled back and ran on pace for over half the race – the 4-lap, 1609m mile distance.

In the men’s 45-49 age-group, Colin Dignum also of Vancouver took down the Canadian 5000m record by running 15:22. The record he needed to beat was 15:27.

More details soon. See (nearly complete) results here.