Derek Drouin, field athletes give Canada star power at worlds
Field, combined events give Canada plenty of medal threats
Canada has a wealth of talent in the field events, where you can expect to see as many as six medals won at the world track and field championships in Beijing, China, Aug. 22 to 31.
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Canada picked up five medals at the 2013 worlds in Moscow, a surprising tally considering the quality of competition. One of those went to high jumper Derek Drouin from Corunna, Ont.
A bronze medal in Moscow, a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, and gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and this year's Pan Am Games have proven Drouin's consistency on the world stage, and he is a good bet to earn another medal in Beijing.
After a slow start to the 2015 season, he won at the Pan Am Games in Toronto with a clearance of 2.37m, then repeated that height at a meet in Germany a few weeks later.
"In Germany, aside from one silly miss early on, every height was a first attempt," Drouin said. "So overall, it was a better competition than Pan Ams. Obviously, my goal is always to win [in Beijing]. It's the world championships and the best are going to be there. So whether that is entirely plausible, who is to say?
"I feel confident I can be competitive with anyone in the world right now."
Among those he expects in the medal hunt are Qatar's Mutaz Barshim (2.41m this year), defending world champion Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine and the surprising Chinese Guowai Zhang. And B.C. native Mike Mason is also having a good year, jumping a personal best of 2.33m twice this season. That might be enough to challenge for a podium finish.
Drouin set the Canadian record of 2.40m last year and says he is encouraged by the strength of the Canadian team.
Two years ago, he felt immense pressure to deliver on Athletics Canada's medal target. Now, there are five others who can also challenge for medals in the field:
- Cristabel Netty, the 24-year-old Pan Am long jump champion, is currently ranked second in the world at 6.99m.
- Pole vaulter Shawn Barber set a new Canadian record of 5.93 this season when finishing second in the London Diamond League meet. The winner of that meet was world record holder and defending Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie of France.
- Heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton won the prestigious Gotzis meet with a world-leading performance of 6,808 points.
- Decathlete Damian Warner won the Pan Am Games, breaking Michael Smith's Canadian record with a mark of 8,659 points. He's ranked second in the world this season behind American Trey Hardee (8,725). If the reigning world and Olympic champion, American Ashton Eaton, has recovered from a strained back, he will be the favourite. Warner won bronze two years ago in Moscow.
- Javelin thrower Elizabeth Gleadle has a personal best of 64.83m and has proven she can succeed in pressure situations, winning Pan Am gold. She's ranked 10th in the world and stands an outside shot at the podium.