Canada’s hopefuls

GAVIN SMELLIE

Age: 29 Hometown: Etobicoke Events: 100m, 4x100m relay He’s Canada’s second-fastest man this year and battling time to become the sub-10 second runner he believes he can be. An Olympian in 2012, he was part of the 4x100 relay squad which was in the bronze medal position — but disqualified when a teammate stepped on the line.

SAM EFFAH

Age: 26 Hometown: Calgary Events: 100m, 4x100m relay He came to track from football at the University of Calgary and was instantly fast. He seemed destined to join the elite international club of sub-10 second runners but the trajectory of his career has been badly sidelined by repeated injuries.

KHAMICA BINGHAM

Age: 21 Hometown: Caledon Events: 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay The former gymnast started picking up records as soon as she stepped on the track in high school and hasn’t stopped. At 19, she ran anchor for the 4x100 team at the world championships; she made the 100m final at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and this year she anchored the team that broke the Canadian record, twice, and qualified for the Rio Olympics. She’s the fastest Canadian woman currently running.

PHYLICIA GEORGE

Age: 27 Hometown: Markham Events: 100m hurdles She didn’t start running until high school and instantly felt at home with the sprinters even though her tall, slim frame suggests she belonged with the distance runners. George is primarily a 100m hurdler but had such a fast 100m sprint she qualified for the London Olympics in that event. She chose to concentrate on the hurdles and finished sixth. Kerry Gillespie