Edmonton International Track Classic set to go
Lots to watch on Saturday
United States middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds has interesting views on how Olympic athletes can raise their profile.
“You may very well be an Olympic gold medallist, but if you’re only on the track for 10 seconds a year, that’s not really helping anybody out,” said the 28-year-old Symmonds, a native of Eugene, Ore., which is home of Nike and a track and field mecca.
He believes athletes have to try to give their sponsors exposure 365 days a year.
“That involves social media, that involves doing fun stunts like the beer mile.”
The beer mile? That was a wacky event in which Symmonds drank a full can of beer at the start of a timed 1,500 metres and another full can after every quarter mile. He ran the distance in five minutes, 19.9 seconds, four cans of beer and all. The video is a popular YouTube fixture.
But make no mistake, Symmonds is a serious runner. He finished fifth in the 800 metres at the London Olympics in the race that Kenya’s David Rudisha won in 1:40.91, a spectacular world record.
“Ultimately, I need to be entertaining, I need to make sure that people in Edmonton know who I am and want to come out and pay to sit down and watch me run an 800 (metres race). You’ve got to put yourself out there a little bit.”
Here are some other athletes well worth watching today: Jason Rogers, St. Kitts and Nevis, 100 metres
Rogers grew up idolizing his homeland’s signature sprinter, Kim Collins, who became the young Rogers’ coach. When Collins moved to Jamaica, Rogers moved to Toronto. He trains there with Desai Williams and Anthony McCleary, who also coach Canadians Priscilla Lopes- Schliep, Phylicia George, Nikkita Holder-Warner and Justyn Warner.
What was Collins’ most important lesson to Rogers?
“Be happy and be relaxed. Don’t put pressure on yourself. The happier you are, the better you will compete.” Paul Kipsiele Koech, Kenya, 3,000-metre steeplechase
Soft-spoken and humble, but a big-time talent, Koech had a surprising answer when organizers of the Edmonton International Track Classic asked him if had any sightseeing ideas for his Edmonton stay.
He wanted to see a major cattle operation, it turned out. So they took him to a nearby feedlot.
Edmonton first hit Koech’s radar screen in 2001, when the city played host to the IAAF World Championship in Athletics.
“It was my first time to compete in the trials in Kenya,” Koech said. “I was 18 years old, and though I wasn’t here (he didn’t qualify), that was the beginning of my career in Kenya.” Angela Whyte, Edmonton, 100-metre hurdles
The hometown hurdler comes here as the Canadian champion, having won her event at the national championships at Moncton, N.B., last weekend. She’ll race against teammate Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont. Zelinka now lives and trains in Connecticut, as well as American stars Lolo Jones and Nia Ali.
“This is going to be that confidence-boost meet,” Whyte said. “I’m going to test my stuff against some of the best in the world.”
Whyte will travel to Moscow for her sixth world championships Aug. 10-18. Sanya Richards-Ross, USA, 400 metres
The elegant Jamaican-born, American star sprinter won the 400-metre gold medal at the London Games and also anchored the U.S.’s 4x400-metre relay team to gold. She arrives in Edmonton rebounding from surgery on her right big toe following the Olympics. Jason Richardson, USA, 110-metre hurdles
He won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics and gold in Daegu, Korea, at the 2011 world championships. He is the defending champion at EITC. Warren Weir, Jamaica, 200 metres
He won the bronze medal in 200 metres at London behind countrymen Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. He finished just ahead of American Wallace Spearmon, who is here competing in both the 100 and 200 metres.