Varsity Stadium in Toronto
TORONTO – The 2012 National Track League (NTL) Finale takes place at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Ont., with the staging of the Toronto International Track + Field Games (TITFG). The TITFG are the sixth and final stop on the 2012 National Track League circuit. Previous events were held in Burnaby, B.C., Victoria, B.C., Edmonton, Atla., Moncton, N.B., and Halifax, N.S.
The TITFG will feature 17 newly minted track and field Olympians competing for the last time on home soil before heading off for training camps and competitions abroad in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games.
2012 Olympians racing in Toronto
name, event in Toronto, competition time (EST)
Melissa Bishop, 800-metres, 7:40pm
Nate Brannen, 1500-metres, 9:00pm
Crystal Emmanuel, 100-metres, 8:40pm
Sultana Frizell, hammer throw, 6:00pm
Alex Genest, 1500-metres, 9:00pm
Phylicia George, 100-metre hurdles, 9:20pm
Geoff Harris, 800-metres, 7:50pm
Nikkita Holder, 100-metre hurdles, 9:20pm
Jenna Martin, 400-metres, 8:10pm
Curtis Moss, javelin, 7:30pm
Justin Rodhe, shot put, 6:00pm
Gavin Smellie, 100-metres, 7:25pm
Jessica Smith, 800-metres, 7:40pm
Seyi Smith, 100-metres, 7:25pm
Heather Steacy, hammer throw, 6:00pm
Damian Warner, 110-metre hurdles, 9:10pm
Justyn Warner, 100-metres, 7:25pm
NTL Trophy races
Many NTL championship trophy races are still up in the air and won’t be decided until final results are in at the TITFG. Points are doubled in the NTL Finale so anything can happen. A first place finish will earn an athlete 16 points, second will get them 12 points, third 10 points and fourth will get them 8 points in the standings.
Men’s 100-metres
Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., leads the way with 28 points ahead of Seyi Smith of Ottawa, Ont., who is second with 22 points. With points doubled for the NTL Finale Anson Henry of Pickering, Ont., who is third with 18 points is also in the mix.
Men’s TIMEX 800-metres
Andrew Ellerton of Sudbury, Ont., and Kyle Smith of Scarborough, Ont., are tied atop the standings with 25 points apiece. Geoff Harris of Halifax, N.S., is in third place with 16 points.
Men’s 1500-metres
Taylor Milne of Guelph, Ont., is running away with the NTL title in the 1500-metres with 32 points amassed thus far. The battle for second and third place will be fierce with Matthew Lincoln of Scarborough, Ont., at 19 points, Nathan Brannen of Cambridge, Ont., has 16 points, Geoff Martinson of Victoria, B.C., sits at 14 points while Matthew Walters of North Bay, Ont., and Justin Marpole-Bird of Vancouver, B.C., are at 11 and 10 points respectively.
Men’s shot put
NTL standings leader Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., is already away getting ready for the Olympic Games at a training camp in Portugal so he won’t be in the mix in the NTL final standings. After Armstrong, Justin Rodhe of Kamloops, B.C., leads the way with 18 points, Umer Khan of Markham, Ont., is next with 16 points followed by Tim Nedow of Brockville, Ont., who sits at 14 points.
Men’s javelin throw
The javelin NTL title will be decided by who finishes ahead between Curtis Moss of Burnaby, B.C., who is currently first with 22 points and Kyle Nielsen of Langley, B.C., who is second with 18 points.
Women’s 100-metre hurdles
The 100-metre hurdles race in Toronto could prove to be as dramatic and exciting as the final at the Olympic Trials in Calgary a week ago. All of the same players will take to the starting blocks except for Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont. Leading the way in the 100-metre hurdles standings is Angela Whyte of Edmonton, Alta., with 25 points. She’s closely followed by Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., who has 18 points, Nikkita Holder of Pickering, Ont., is next with 17 points. Tied for fourth place are Phylicia George of Markham, Ont., and Christie Gordon who have 11 points apiece.
Women’s 400-metres
It’s a two horse race in the women’s 400-metres with Ese Omene of Regina, Sask., leading the way with 30 points ahead of Jenna Martin of Bridgewater, N.S., who has 24 points. With points doubled for the final anything can happen. In third is Ester Akinsulie of Ottawa, Ont., with 12 points.
Women’s 800-metres
Lemlem Ogbasillasie of Montreal, Que., has been on a tear since taking the 800-metres title at Trials. She followed that up with wins in National Track League stops in Moncton and Halifax to place her atop the standings with 29 points. Leanna Maclean of Toronto, Ont., is second with 15 points, Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ont., is third with 14 points and Karine Belleau-Belliveau of Montreal, Que., is fourth with 12 points.
Women’s Running Room 1500-metres
Kate Van Buskirk of Brampton, Ont., is in first place with 21 points ahead of Julia Kawamoto of Saint John’s, NFLD., and Jessica O’Connell of Calgary, Alta., who have 16 and 13 points respectively. Rachel Cliff of Vancouver, B.C., is in fourth place with 8 points.
Women’s hammer throw
Megann Rodhe of Kamloops, B.C., is in first place with 24 points ahead of Heather Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., who is second with 20 points. Steacy is the defending champion in the event. Sultana Frizell of Perth, Ont., is third at 16 points.
Women’s long jump
The women’s long jump NTL title will be decided between current leader Patricia Sylvester of Toronto, Ont., who currently has 21 points and Alice Falaiye of Etobicoke, Ont., who is in second place with 17 points.
Complete National Track League standings
Live results
Complete schedule of events
