As the summer season is coming to a close for most, the biggest stage in the world for sports is set to take place yet again, and BC is sending a strong contingent of track and field athletes to Paris. Before the track and field events fully kick off, Milesplit BC wants to highlight the athletes proudly representing BC as we cheer them on over the next 2 weeks.
BC's Hammer Powerhouse
It's become no secret over the past 2 years that BC is the heart of hammer throwing in Canada and indeed around the world. World Champions Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers are ready to go in Paris, both ranked first heading in. Katzberg, hailing from Nanaimo, makes his Olympic debut at just 22 years old. Rogers, from Richmond, became the first Canadian woman to make an Olympic hammer throw final in Tokyo and still holds the NCAA hammer throw record from her time competing at the University of California, Berkeley.
BC also sends Rowan Hamilton of Chilliwack and Adam Keenan of Victoria for the Men's Hammer Throw. Hamilton is a multi-NAIA Champion with UBC and transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, for his final year. At Berkeley, he became the first male Bear to win an NCAA hammer title since 1922. Keenan has highlighted issues recently with access to proper training facilities on the island, but has persevered and qualified for the Olympics, being no stranger to Canadian national teams.
BC's Racewalk Legacy Continues
Another strong event within BC is the racewalk, where Canadian racewalking royalty Evan Dunfee and promising young athlete Olivia Lundman will work together in the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay event, a new event this year. Dunfee also just took to the Men's 20km Race Walk early this morning where he placed fifth. Dunfee, from Richmond, took home the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics for the 50km Race Walk. He is also a 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist in the 10km Race Walk. Lundman, from Nanaimo, smashed the NAIA record this year in the Women's 5km Race Walk. The UBC athlete makes her Olympic debut at just 21 years old.