2016 Program Presenting Sponsor Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors The SCHEIN Foundation Supporters Cheer International Athletes — On the Road to Rio 1 WELCOME TRACK & FIELD FANS! A big welcome from the athletes The Achilles International Track and Field Society is very proud A big, big, sincere thank you to our Presenting, Gold, Silver, to present the 33rd Annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Bronze sponsors and Supporters. We certainly acknowledge International Track Classic. The first event of the 2016 National and appreciate your contribution. The event would simply not Track League (NTL) series. be possible without your generous support. Also we acknowl- edge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. The 2016 edition of the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Interna- tional Track Classic is shaping up to be a great one. The large Are you a track and field fan? Don’t forget our other event the field includes several high profile athletes who are preparing Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Indoor Games scheduled for for the Olympic Games in Rio. The competition will be fierce early 2017. The indoor games is an opportunity for up and as many of the track and field elite are here tonight. In addi- coming athletes to shine. tion the Race Walk and Steeplechase events will make it an evening to remember. Everyone is up for this one and it will be Of course don’t forget the 2017 edition of the Vancouver Sun exciting. Harry Jerome Track Classic. Check harryjerome.com for all of the latest information. We welcome back members of the Special Olympics for an equally spirited 100m event. We’re glad to have you and it’s Be sure to cheer on your favorite athlete(s) and enjoy the meet. your opportunity to shine on the big track. Also don’t forget the relay races for our Junior Athletes. - Achilles International Track and Field Society In addition to the competition there are plenty of other activi- ties. Be sure to catch the Opening Ceremonies. We’ve planned a very moving presentation that you will not want to miss. Follow us on social media! Again this year several of our sponsors have set up booths #harryjerome in the concourse area of the stadium. Check out some great clothing and equipment. During the meet follow the links on harryjerome.com for the most up-to-date information and live coverage of the event. WiFi access available at: SSID: HarryJerome_24.GHz or HarryJerome_5.GHz Passcode: TrackMeet2016 2 Harry Jerome receives 100m gold medal at 1967 Pan Am Games Harry Winston Jerome was born on September 30, 1940 year is the fact that Harry won the gold medal at the 1967 Pan in Prince Albert, Sask., and moved with his family to British American Games in Winnipeg. Canadian athletes will try and Columbia and the Vancouver area in 1951. He was a talented duplicate this feat at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. athlete who excelled in a variety of sports, including baseball and football. Exceptional speed was his trademark and special In 1968 he represented Canada at his third Olympic Games - gift. an extraordinary feat in itself given that longevity in the sport was not what doctors were predicting. He finished seventh in At age 18 the North Vancouver sprinter broke the 31-year-old the Olympic final at Mexico City, confirming that despite the Canadian record for the 220-yard sprint - held by 1928 double array of physical troubles, he never gave up. Olympic gold medalist Percy Williams. A year later he emerged as an international sensation by equalling the world record for Harry Jerome retired from international competition at the end 100 metres by clocking 10.0 seconds at the Canadian Olympic of the 1968 season. He remained a mentor and inspiration Trials in Saskatoon. for Canadians, working in the Federal Ministry of Sport and, later, developing the B.C. Premier’s Sport Awards Program. He What should have been a promising Olympic debut at the received the Order of Canada in 1971 and was named British 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome for Jerome became instead Columbia’s Athlete of the Century. the first of many difficult trials that served as a test of the ath- lete’s personal motto: Never Give Up. Jerome pulled a muscle Harry Jerome died suddenly from a brain aneurysm on Decem- in the 100-metre semi-finals in Rome and was out of the com- ber 7, 1982, at age 42. petition. He returned, however, in 1964 at the Summer Olym- pics in Tokyo. Jerome earned a bronze medal in the 100-metre The Harry Jerome International Track Classic is held annually final, rightfully earning his spot on the Olympic podium. Two in honour of Harry Jerome, whose talent and tenacity on and days later he finished fourth in the 200 metres. off the track inspired a generation of Canadians to “never give up” in their own endeavours. His legacy of athletic excellence Two years later Jerome won the 100 yards final at the 1966 and commitment to youth and sport remain pillars of motiva- British Commonwealth Games in Jamaica, his first gold medal tion and inspiration today. at a major international games. That year he also set a world record of 9.1 seconds over 100 yards. Of great significance this 3 4 Message from the Honourable Peter Fassbender Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development On behalf of Premier Christy Clark and the Government of British Columbia, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our province for the 2016 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic. This prestigious track and field meet is an outstanding showcase of international talent, featuring some of the world’s best competitors – a warm welcome to you all. There’s no doubt that this year’s competitions will once again thrill, inspire and motivate those who are fortunate to be in the audience. I’m pleased to know that some of B.C.’s finest track and field athletes are here today – high-performance sport is a priority in this province. Since 2001, more than $1 billion has been invested in sport to help our athletes achieve their highest potential and to assist communities and organizations in their efforts to make B.C. the destination of choice for sport events. Every year, British Columbia hosts numerous national and international sport events – such as this one – throughout the province. We recognize these opportunities reach beyond the scope of athletic competition by providing tremendous social and economic benefits back to the host community. Thank you to the Achilles International Track and Field Society, along with the many volunteers and sponsors who have played a huge role in making this event possible. This competition could not happen without the support of coaches, mentors, friends and family who consistently give their time and energy to support the athletes. Congratulations to all competitors; I wish you great success at this event. To those who have travelled from abroad, I hope you enjoy your time in beautiful British Columbia. Sincerely, Peter Fassbender Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development 5 DE GRASSE AND JEROME: ONE IN THE SAME? By Brian Pound Is Canada’s latest sprint sensation, Andre de Grasse, a clone of the late Harry Jerome? • Both came from other sports, de Grasse from basketball, Jerome football and rugby. • Both started their sprint careers in Grade 11. • Both are Pan American Games’ champions. • Both are NCAA sprint champions. • Both have the same smooth running style. • Both are winners. And both sprinted onto the world scene early on in sensational fashion, Jerome equalling the world record for 100-metres at the 1960 Canadian championships in Saskatoon, one year out of high school, and De Grasse winning both the NCAA sprint titles last year and then repeating the feat at the Toronto Pan American Games, while still a student at USC. Andre, of course, still has a bit of catching up to do to get close to Jerome’s phenomenal racing record: Seven world records.... three Olympics (1960, ‘64, ‘68).... Olym- pic bronze (1964, Tokyo).... captured the Canadian 100-metre championship an incredible seven times. With his sights set on Rio and the Summer Olympics, De Grasse, now a professional athlete training at the elite complex in Phoenix that draws ath- letes from around the world, is using tonight’s Jerome meet as a stepping stone to what he hopes will lead to a podium finish. And maybe a Jerome Track Classic record or even Canadian record. The fastest any man has raced over the Swangard track at the Jerome was Donovan Bailey, who turned the trick in 9.99 sec- onds in 1997. The Canadian record is 9.84 seconds, also set by Bailey at the 96 Olympics and equaled by Bruny Surin in 99 at a meet in Spain. Also looking ahead to Rio, Achilles International Track Soci- ety’s Doug Clement commented: ”Will Andre De Grasse bring home a medal for the Rio Olympics? The tradition set by Harry Jerome at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 and Percy Williams at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics is visible today as we pass their statues in Stanley Park and BC Place. Will Andre De Grasse break fellow Canadian and 1996 Atlantic Olympic champion Donovan Bailey’s Jerome Classic meet record of 9.99 sec- onds? We will find that out tonight.” It would also be appropriate. The first winner of the 100-metres at the first Achilles meet in 1964 (Empire Stadium) was Harry Jerome. Andre De Grasse Go Andre Go! 6 THE WORLD’S FITTEST COUPLE By Gary Kingston In March, they each won gold at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Brianne in the pentathlon and Ashton in the heptathlon.