A major sports event is coming to Burnaby.
Athletics Canada announced today (Friday) that Burnaby will play host to the 2019 and 2020 Canadian 10,000-metre Championships. The event will take place at Swangard Stadium - which features an eight-lane, 400-metre IAAF certified track - on June 13, 2019, and June 11, 2020.
The announcement follows the stadium being re-opened in June after being extensively refurbished. The eight-lane 400-metre Olympic regulation oval track was replaced as a result of funding support of $420,000 from the federal Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Grant Program (CIP 150), as well as $280,000 from the City’s Gas Tax funds and $250,000 from a local non-profit group.
The national championship races will be held in conjunction with the Pacific Distance Carnival, a new event that local organizers plan to model after England’s Night of the 10,000m PB’s where the racing atmosphere is seen as a crucial element in heightening athlete performance. Spectators will have access to prime track-side seats throughout a licensed facility.
Organizers are promising pyrotechnics, music and a group of drummers along with the sports.
“Athletics Canada looks forward to working with BC Athletics, the BC Endurance Project and Mile2Marathon to bring the 2019 and 2020 editions of the Canadian 10,000-metre Championships to Swangard Stadium as part of the Pacific Distance Carnival,” said chief operating officer Mathieu Gentès in a statement. “Our objective with the Canadian 10,000-metre Championships are to provide a first-rate competitive opportunity setting the stage for Canadian athletes to run personal bests and international standards in a fun and exciting atmosphere. We are confident that the Pacific Distance Carnival will provide this opportunity.”
The Pacific Distance Carnival will feature three distances – 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres – in six different events that will include both able-body and para athletes in ambulatory and wheelchair races. The 10,000-metre races will include elite-level pacers, to assist local, national and international athletes looking to chase personal bests and international standards.
Additional information, including athlete registration, the schedule of events, prizes and awards, will be accessible at www.athletics.ca as it becomes available.
