2017 Harry Jerome International Classic to Feature Andre De Grasse

[This article was originally posted on www.HarryJerome.com]

COQUITLAM—Canada’s Olympic dynamic medal-winning sprinter, Andre de Grasse, has confirmed he will be returning to compete at the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic on June 28.

He will be doing it at Coquitlam’s Perry Percy Stadium, not Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium which has hosted the meet for the past two dozen years.

Achilles International Track Society chair Doug Clement: “In discussions with Dave Ellenwood, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture for the City of Burnaby, the Achilles Track and Field Society became aware of potential plans for resurfacing the track at Swangard. Final decisions on the upgrading to Swangard have yet to be decided, however this was the rationale for the 2017 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic to move to Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam. The Jerome Classic will be looking to come back to Swangard when the new track is in place.”

Andre De Grasse used last year’s Jerome meet as a tune-up for the Rio Summer Olympics where he engaged in some thrilling matchups with multiple-time gold medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica. De Grasse won a silver medal in the 200-metres and bronze in both the 100 and 400-metre relays in Rio. He won both the 100 and 200-metre races at last year’s Jerome. 

This time around De Grasse will be using the Jerome as a warm-up for the World Athletics Championships this August in London and another opportunity to deliver his own lightning “bolt” on the track.

“I just try to have a lot of fun when I’m competing because I know how hard it is during training,” said De Grasse. “And there are always going to be ups and downs with sports, but I have to remember to always just be motivated because I know I inspire a lot of people and I want to show them it’s a fun sport. I want to lift up the sport, especially in Canada”

"Andre De Grasse was Canada's outstanding male athlete in 2017 with his three medals at the Rio Olympics, ‘said Doug Clement. "He follows in the footsteps of Harry Jerome who is honored in this competition for his Olympic medal and world records over 50 years ago. Andre's appearance at the Jerome Classic is a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness this legend compete on Canadian soil.”

The Jerome Classic, Canada's longest running International Athletics meet, will be announcing other top-notch athletes competing in the meet once they are confirmed.