Canadian Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse is speeding to the Harry Jerome Track Classic next Wednesday at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam.
In fact, De Grasse ran the third-fastest 100m ever recorded Sunday in Stockholm, Sweden, at the Diamond League meet, his last competition before the Jerome games.
But his 9.69 time won’t be officially recorded. That’s because it was assisted by a 4.8 metres/second tailwind, well above the allowable limit of 2.00 m/s. De Grasse’s best time without wind assistance is 9.91. The Canadian record is 9.84, set by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Olympics and Bruny Surin at the 1999 World Championships. Usain Bolt’s world record is 9.58, set in 2009.
Still, De Grasse, who announced Monday he'll also run the 200m at the Jerome, said he was encouraged by his early-season result, which came after winning the 100m in Oslo three days earlier and a gold in the 200m in Rome on June 8.
“It was a shock to me when I saw the time on the board,” he said in a report on the Internanational Association of Athletics Federations’ website. “I’m just looking forward to running that fast legally.”
He’ll have that chance next Wednesday on a track that’s got a reputation for producing fast times with a little assistance from a prevailing wind that often comes out of the northeast, behind the sprinters heading down it’s front straight. As long as it’s not too strong.
De Grasse will be pushed by a strong field that includes Jamaican Jerome Blake, who now lives and trains in Kelowna and won the 100m at the 2104 BC High School championship, along with African 100m and 200m champion Wilfried Koffi, of Cote D’Ivoire.
But unless you’ve already got a ticket, you won’t be able to see the race. Organizers announced last Wednesday the event is sold out and no more tickets will be sold at the door.
Doug Clement, the chair of the Achilles Track and Field Society that organizes the Jerome meet, said the early sellout in its new home is a reflection of the excitement for the growing stature of Canadian athletes in international track and field.
“Over the last three to four years, we’ve gained a prominence in world-ranking lists which have not been matched ever,” said Clement. “Leading athletes and our [medal-winning] relay teams, people do know them.”
The competition at the Jerome starts at 6:20 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 and seats in the grandstand are available on a first-come basis. There will be standing room areas around the track. The even will also be streamed live on athleticscanada.tv
