Two more Richmond athletes have been nominated to represent the host country at next month’s Pan American Games in Toronto.
Race walker Evan Dunfee and high jumper Emma Kimoto were among 89 athletes named last week by Athletics Canada. They join swimmers Noemie Thomas and Luke Reilly, fencer Shaul Gordon and badminton players Toby Ng and Derrick Ng. Nathan Hirayama is also expected to be named to Canada’s Rugby Sevens team.
Dunfee, 24, is coming off an impressive 2014 campaign that saw him establish new Canadian records over 20 (1:30.13) and 15 (1:00.06) kilometres at the 2014 IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Taicang, China. He also recorded a new personal best of 3:58.34 over 50 kilometres at the Australian National Championships. It was enough to the Richmond Sports Awards’ Adult Male Athlete of the Year. He also earned his Kinesiology degree at UBC.
Dunfee will be joined in Toronto by longtime Vancouver-based training partner Ianki Gomez.
Kimoto, 23, enjoyed an impressive collegiate career at the University of Indiana that included winning the Big Ten indoor and outdoor titles in her senior year. Her 2015 season so far includes a personal best jump of 1.85 metres at the XL Caitlin Bermuda National Athletic Championships on June 13.
She will be joined in the women’s high jump competition by Alyxandria Treasure.
“The Pan American Games are important along our Road to Rio, along with the World Championships later this summer which are our main target,” said Peter Eriksson, Athletics Canada Chief Technical Officer and Head Coach.
The upcoming Canadian Track and Field Championships in Edmonton (July 2-5). will play an important role for these athletes as they show proof of readiness for competition at the Pan American Games. The Championships also serve as the selection Trials for the World Championships.
Athletics competition begins July 18 at the Pan American Games with the women’s marathon and continues through to July 26.
