The expanded 2018 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic will include the powerhouse Chinese national team.
The China-Canada Team Sprint Challenge will feature a 10-event dual meet between the two countries over days on the new state of the art surface at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. The Team Sprint Challenge will actually be a competition within the regular Jerome meet, which will have 10 events on June 26 and 12 on June 27. The team with the highest score will be awarded the Pacific World Cup.
The Jerome Classic returns to Swangard following its track re-surfacing. Last year’s event took place at Town Centre Stadium in Coquitlam.
“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 dollars renovation to what many consider to be the best facility for our sport in Canada,” said Achilles President Doug Clement. “Most significant is 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.”
Both the Canadian and Chinese teams will consist of 10 men and 10 women to compete in the 100, 200 and 400 metre sprint events, along with the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. China currently has two of the world’s fastest men in Bingtan Su and Zhenye Xie. Su finished second (6.42 seconds) and Xie fourth (6.52 seconds) in the 60-metre final at the recent World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England. Su’s time was as a new Asian record. He also has run under 10 seconds in the 100 metres on four occasions.
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, Daley Thompson, Charmaine Crooks, Lynn Kanuka, John Walker, Ashton Eaton, Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Dylan Armstrong. Last year’s headliner was sprint star Andre De Grasse, winner of three medals at the Rio Summer Olympics.
Tickets for the Jerome meet are now available. Adult tickets are $45 for a two-day package and $25 for a one-day ticket. Tickets are also available for youth, families, groups and VIP and all are available through www.harryjerome.com.
