Athletics Canada Nominates Athletes to Team Canada for Rio Olympics

After four days of Olympic trials in Edmonton from July 7 to July 10,  sixty-five Canadian athletes have been nominated by Athletics Canada, and the Canadian Olympic Committee to represent Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August.

Among the athletes, Eric Gillis and Reid Coolsaet will compete in the men’s marathon and Krista DuChene and Lanni Marchant will compete in the women’s marathon. In addition to the marathon, Marchant will also compete in the 10,000 meters, along with Vancouver’s Natasha Wodak. Marchant’s nomination for both events comes after weeks of uncertainty. When news broke last month that Athletics Canada may not allow Marchant to participate in both the marathon and 10,000 meter events, supporters rallied around Marchant and an online petition picked up major support for the London, Ontario athlete.

Along with the distance runners, sprinters include 2015 IAAF World Champion individual medalist, sprinter Andre De Grasse, and two-time Olympian Melissa Bishop who will compete in the 800 meter event. The team is led by Head Coach and Chief Technical Officer, Peter Eriksson.

At Rio 2016, Canada expects to field a team of approximately 315 athletes.

The roster of runners nominated in athletics include:

Mohammed Ahmed St. Catharines, ON  5000m, 10,000m

Mobolade Ajomale Richmond Hill, ON 4x100m Relay

Maria Bernard Calgary, AB  3000m Steeplechase

Mathieu Bilodeau  Calgary, AB  50km Race Walk

Khamica Bingham Brampton, ON 4x100m Relay

Melissa Bishop Eganville, ON 800m

Nathan Brannen Cambridge, ON 1500m

Lucas Bruchet Vancouver, BC 5000m

Aaron Brown Toronto, ON 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay

Alicia Brown Ottawa, ON 400m, 4x400m Relay

Johnathan Cabral Péribonka, QC 110m Hurdles

Chanice Chase Toronto, ON 400m Hurdles, 4x400m Relay

Kendra Clarke Edmonton, AB 400m, 4x400m Relay

Reid Coolsaet Hamilton, ON Marathon

Andre De Grasse Markham, ON  100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay

Krista DuChene Brantford, ON Marathon

Evan Dunfee Richmond, BC 20km & 50km Race Walk

Crystal Emmanuel East York, ON 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay

Phylicia George Markham, ON 100m Hurdles, 4x100m Relay

Eric Gillis Antigonish, NS Marathon

Javelin Inaki Gomez Vancouver, BC 20km Racewalk

Akeem Haynes Calgary, AB 100m, 4x100m Relay

Nikkita Holder Pickering, ON 100m Hurdles

Matthew Hughes Oshawa, ON 3000m Steeplechase

Kimberly Hyacinthe Terrebonne, QC 200m, 4x100m Relay

Farah Jacques Gatineau, QC 4x100m Relay

Sekou Kaba Ottawa, ON 110m Hurdles

Marissa Kurtimah Guelph, ON 4x100m Relay

Genevieve Lalonde Moncton, NB 3000m Steeplechase

Oluwasegun Makinde Ottawa, ON 4x100m Relay

Lanni Marchant London, ON 10,000m, Marathon

Brandon McBride Windsor, ON 800m

Taylor Milne Callander, ON 3000m Steeplechase

Noelle Montcalm Belle River, ON 400m Hurdles

Carline Muir Edmonton, AB 400m, 4x400m Relay

Jessica O’Connell Calgary, AB 5000m

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot Quebec City, QC 1500m

Micha Powell Montreal,QC 4x400m Relay

Brendon Rodney Brampton, ON 200m, 4x100m Relay

Anthony Romaniw Hamilton, ON 800m

Andrea Seccafien Guelph, ON 5000m

Nicole Sifuentes Winnipeg, MB 1500m

Gabriela Stafford Toronto, ON 1500m

Hilary Stellingwerff Victoria, BC 1500m

Erin Teschuk Winnipeg, MB 3000m Steeplechase

Brianne Theisen-Eaton Humboldt, SK Heptathlon

Benjamin Thorne Kitimat, BC 20km Race Walk

Damian Warner London, ON Decathlon

Sage Watson Medicine Hat, AB 400m Hurdles, 4x400m Relay

Angela Whyte Edmonton, AB 100m Hurdles

Chris Winter North Vancouver, BC 3000m Steeplechase

Natasha Wodak Vancouver, BC 10,000m