Jericho Park Hosts Canadian Cross Country Championships

The 2012 Canadian Cross Country Championships take place this Saturday November 24th in Jericho Park Vancouver serving as the selection meet for both the 2013 NACAC (North America Central America and Caribbean) Cross Country Championships and IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

2012 Olympians taking their mark

Defending champion Cameron Levins of Black Creek, B.C., will face tough competition from fellow 2012 Olympic Games teammate Mohammed Ahmed of St. Catherines, Ont., in the senior men’s race.

Both Levins and Ahmed finished in the top 20 in London in the men’s 10,000-metres. Kelly Wiebe of Swift Current, Sask., will also bring tight competition to the field as he recently was crowned the 2012 CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) Cross Country Champion.

In the senior women’s race, hometown girls Natasha Fraser of Port Moody, B.C., and 2012 Olympian Jessica Smith of North Vancouver, B.C., will try to take home field advantage against Guelph, Ontario’s Megan Brown.

Fraser will be looking to improve on her fifth place finish at the 2011 Canadian Cross Country Championships, while Brown captured the Canadian 10km road race title earlier this year.

Strong competition will also come from Kate Harrison of Toronto, Ont., Genevieve Lalonde of Moncton, N.B and Kate Van Buskirk of Brampton, Ont.

Keep your eye out for these junior racers

Robert Denault of Aurora, Ont., is returning from a silver medal at the 2011 Canadian Junior Cross Country Championships and has his sights on gold for 2012.

In the junior women’s race IAAF World Youth team member Jaime Phelan of Kitchener, Ontario will be a strong contender of those in the mix for the title.

Competition will officially be underway at 10:00am local time