Harry Jerome Track Classic lands Olympic decathlon gold medalist Damian Warner

by


“It gives us a chance to show our appreciation for all he’s done to uplift us, and propel him into the next chapter of his journey: the World Championships in Eugene.” — Meet director Nigel Hole

Damian Warner of Canada celebrates with his national flag after winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Damian Warner of Canada celebrates with his national flag after winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo by KAI PFAFFENBACH /REUTERS

Olympic decathlon gold medalist Damian Warner has committed to the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic.

The meet goes June 14 at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium.

The Jerome, Canada’s longest running track and field event, will feature a full field of athletes and fans in the stands this year. The 2020 Jerome was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 event was limited to just 71 athletes and no spectators inside the stadium.

Warner is one of only four men to score more than 9,000 points in the decathlon, the two-day, 10-event competition. The London, Ont., native is expected to compete in a couple of yet-to-be-determined disciplines at the Jerome as he builds toward the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore., beginning July 15.

Warner won his gold medal in Tokyo last August, scoring 9,018 points to set the Olympic record. He later served as Canada’s flag bearer at the closing ceremonies and won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete in 2021.

“I’m thrilled that fans will be able to welcome Damian back to the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic,” meet director Nigel Hole explained in a press release. “It gives us a chance to show our appreciation for all he’s done to uplift us, and propel him into the next chapter of his journey: the World Championships in Eugene.

“We can’t wait to reunite the west coast track and field community. The Harry Jerome has long held a special place in the hearts of athletes, coaches, officials, alumni and fans alike. It’s no secret that Canadians cherish the opportunity to compete in front of a supportive home crowd.”

Runners take part in the 3000 meters women’s steeplechase during the Harry Jerome International Track Classic in Burnaby, BC, Thursday, June 20, 2019.

Further commitments from Canadian and international athletes will be released closer to the meet.

The Jerome is hosted by BC’s Achilles International Track and Field Society, with proceeds from the event used to support track and field competition in the province.

This year’s Jerome will be part of Athletics Canada’s National Track and Field Tour, a series of 10 high-performance meets scheduled for the 2022 outdoor season. As a bronze classified event on the World Athletics Continental Tour, the Jerome will provide athletes with the opportunity to collect World ranking points.

Other BC events include the Victoria Track Classic on June 16, the Kamloops Throws Festival on June 18 and the Canadian track and field championships June 22-26 at Langley.

Tickets to the meet are now available online at harryjerome.com.

More news, fewer ads: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: Vancouver Sun | The Province.

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user follows comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your e-mail settings.


Leave a Comment