THE WORLDS IS THEIR STAGE
Eleven Canadians to watch at world track and field meet
Here are some of Canada’s top stars to watch at the worlds, which run until Aug. 13 in London:
DAMIAN WARNER
Event: Decathlon Hometown: London, Ont.
Age: 27 He’s the Olympic bronze and world silver medallist. The Canadian record holder is looking for his speed — he’s the fastest 100-metre sprinter and hurdler to ever compete in the decathlon — and increasing skill in the jumps and throws to take him to the top spot, empty after the retirement of American Ashton Eaton.
Main rival: France’s Kevin Mayer, the Olympic Rio silver medallist.
MELISSA BISHOP
Event: 800 metres Hometown: Eganville, Ont.
Age: 28 Bishop ran the fastest race of her life in Rio and finished a heartbreaking fourth. She recently broke her Canadian record, and is looking to win a medal in London to go with the silver she won at the worlds in 2015.
Main rival: South Africa’s Caster Semenya, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist.
CRYSTAL EMMANUEL
Events: Sprints Hometown: Toronto
Age: 25 Emmanuel won both the 100- and 200-metre titles at the Canadian championships in July. A week later, she ran 22.50 in the 200 in Ireland to rewrite one of the nation’s oldest track records, breaking the of 22.62 set by Marita Payne in 1983.
Main rival: Dafne Schippers, the Dutch world champion in the 200.
SHAWN BARBER
Event: Pole Vault Hometown: New Caney, Texas
Age: 23 A series of struggles led to a disappointing Rio performance for the 2015 world champion. He’s hoping to show that he’s back to the jumping form that he’s long been known for.
Main rival: American Sam Kendricks, the Rio bronze medallist who is undefeated in 2017.
MOHAMMED AHMED
Events: 5,000 and 10,000 metres Hometown: St. Catharines, Ont.
Age: 26 He smashed his Canadian 5,000metre record in 2016, dropping it to 13:01.74, and was fourth at the Rio Olympics despite being ranked 17th in the world. Main rival: Britain’s Mo Farah, dominant at both distances.
CHRISTABEL NETTEY
Event: Long jump Hometown: Surrey, B.C.
Age: 26 She started jumping to keep up with her older sister and announced herself in 2015 when she set a Canadian record of 6.99 metres. Nettey was fourth at the last world championships and is ranked third in the world now.
Main rival: American Tianna Bartoletta, the Rio gold medallist.
DEREK DROUIN
Event: High jump Hometown: Corunna, Ont.
Age: 27 He has a long history of delivering when it counts. He won Canada’s only athletics medal (bronze) at the 2012 London Games, then won gold at the 2015 worlds and the 2016 Olympics. Injuries have held him back this season.
Main rival: Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, the Rio silver medallist who is undefeated this year.
BEN THORNE, EVAN DUNFEE
Events: 20- and 50-km race walk Hometowns: Kitimat and Richmond, B.C. Ages: 24 and 26 Thorne surprised the nation by win- ning bronze in the 20-kilometre event at the 2015 worlds and Dunfee was fourth in the 50K in Rio. They’re both looking to get on the podium in London and keep raising the Canadian profile of this little understood sport.
Main rival: With neither of the Rio Olympic champions on the start line, it’s too hard to say in these unpredictable events.
AARON BROWN
Events: 4x100 relay and 200 metres Hometown: Toronto
Age: 25 He’s one of only four Canadians on record to break the 10-second barrier in the 100-metre sprint and a 4x100metre relay veteran. Along with teammates Brendon Rodney, Gavin Smellie and Bolade Ajomale, he’s looking to improve on the bronze relay medal from the last worlds and Olympics. Main rival: Jamaica, unbeaten in the 4x100 in the last decade at the world championships.
SAGE WATSON
Events: 4x400 relay and 400 hurdles Hometown: Medicine Hat, Alta.
Age: 23 Watson won the NCAA 400-metre hurdle title. She also anchored Canada’s 4x400 team to a fourth-place finish in Rio. Watson and teammates Carline Muir, Travia Jones, Aiyanna Stiverne, Natassha McDonald and Noelle Montcalm have their sights on a podium finish.
Main rival: The Americans, the longtime Olympic champions.