Elite Fields Announced for the Hertz Pacific Distance Carnival

June 3, 2019 20:24pm

Start Lists - Posted June 12th @ 6:00pm

BURNABY, BC, June 3, 2019 – With 10 days to go the 2019 Hertz Pacific Distance Carnival is excited to announce the elite fields for the Canadian 10,000m Championships. The men’s field includes Olympian and 3-time National Cross Country Champion Lucas Bruchet who will look to win his first National Track & Field Title. Luc will have his hands full with teammate Evan Esselink who showed great fitness early in 2019 setting a new Half-Marathon Personal Best of 1:02:15, and Rory Linkletter a recent Graduate from Brigham Young University and currently the #1 ranked 10,000m runner in Canada for 2019.

On the women’s side National Record Holder in the 10,000m event, Natasha Wodak, will be challenged by Rachel Cliff who recently broke the National Record for the Marathon running 2:26:56 at the Nagoya Women's Marathon in March, and Kinsey Middleton who ran a personal best 32:20.82 early this year in California.

“We are incredibly excited to bring many of Canada’s best athletes to Burnaby for the Canadian 10,000m Championships” said Meet Director, Chris Winter. “From day one day our goal was to create an environment that would allow our best athletes to chase the World Championship & Olympic Qualifying Marks and we feel that fields we have assembled will give them a great opportunity to do just that.”

As of June 4th the top Canadian Entrants Include:

Elite Canadian Men 10,000m

Rory Linkletter – 28:12.42 – Canadian National Team Member (Cross Country)
Ben Flanagan – 28:19.51 – 2018 NCAA Champion (10,000m)
Lucas Bruchet – 28:36.74 – 2016 Olympian (5,000m)
Evan Esselink – 28:55.98 – National Team Member (Half-Marathon & Cross Country)

Elite Canadian Women 10,000m

Natasha Wodak – 31:41.59 – Olympian & National Record Holder (10,000m)
Rachel Cliff – 31:54.88 – National Record Holder (Marathon & Half-Marathon)
Kinsey Middleton – 32:30.82 - National Team Member (Half-Marathon)

When asked about the event, Rachel Cliff, Canada’s Record Holder at both the Half & Full Marathon distances said, “The Pacific Distance Carnival has been on my schedule since this event was first announced - fast 10,000m races can be tough to find and so I’m excited to have the opportunity to chase the standard at home at our national championships. Having the Chase the Pace (5000m) event right before should add some energy to the event and hopefully we can have a big fan turnout for the 10,000m races!”

Canadian Olympian, Luc Bruchet said, “I'm super excited for the Pacific Distance Carnival. I think our sport has focused a lot on participants recently and we have lost touch with our fans. I think this event is a great way to bring all levels of the running community together in a night of racing, while also focusing a lot of energy on the fan experience. The fact there will be fans up close and personal with us elites on the track will be extra motivating for me in the race.”

While serving as the Canadian Championships, the 10,000m event is also open to international competitors and a number of top athletes will look to compete alongside Canada’s best. As of June 3^rd the top International Entrants Include:

Elite International Men 10,000m

Jared Ward (USA) – 28:36.15 – Olympian (6^th 2016 Olympic Marathon)
Ben Bruce (USA) – 28:09.29 – National Team Member (3000m Steeplechase, Half-Marathon)

Elite International Women 10,000m

Sarah Pagano (USA) – 31:51.66 – National Team Member (Track, Road & Cross Country)
Elaina Tabb (USA) – 31:55.72 – National Team Member (Half-Marathon & Cross Country)
Sarah Inglis (Scotland) – 32:36.89 – National Team Member

The Hertz Pacific Distance Carnival & Canadian 10,000m will be held on Thursday, June 13, at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium. The event will start with local high performance athletes competing at the 1,500m distance followed by the Saucony ‘Chase the Pace’ 5000m with local running club Mile2Marathon introducing road runners to the track racing experience. The evening of distance running will culminate with the best athletes in Canada taking to the track for the Athletics Canada 10,000m National Championships. Entry fee for spectators is by donation, with all proceeds going to support BC Athletics RunJumpThrowWheel Program.

Early Bird Registration ends June 4^th @ Midnight.

Late Registration accepted until Midnight June 11, 2019