VANCOUVER – Three members of the UBC track and field team will represent Canada at the 14th IAAF World Junior Championships, taking place July 10-15 in Barcelona.
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Maria Bernard (Calgary, AB),
Ben Thorne (Kitimat, BC) and
Devan Wiebe (Vancouver, BC) will all don the maple leaf in Spain.
Bernard will run in the women's 1,500-metre race after she recorded a personal best time of 4:21.45 at the recent Harry Jerome International Track Classic in Burnaby earlier this month. It was the race of Bernard's life as she easily beat the World Junior qualifying standard of 4:28.00.
"I am beyond stoked about making the World Junior national team," said Bernard. "It was certainly challenging, but it feels really rewarding. Devan and I didn't know how everything would pan out but we hoped we would get to go together. I'm extremely happy that it's worked out that way. I'm excited to run for Canada in Barcelona and also to be on a team with some old teammates again."
Wiebe is peaking at the right time for the women's 800m event. She participated in the event at the Jerome Classic and finishing in a time of 2:06.59, setting a personal best. Wiebe then improved on that at the Victoria International Track Classic, completing the 800m race in 2:05.92.
"I am so excited to have made the Canadian team going to World Juniors," said Wiebe. "This is the first national team I have been selected for and it is a real honour to be chosen to represent Canada on the world stage."
"Making this team has been my goal all season though at times it seemed unattainable, I am so happy that all my effort has paid off. I will be looking to run a personal best in Barcelona and take the most advantage possible of this amazing opportunity."
Thorne will take part in the men's 10k race walk. He is the Canadian junior record holder and the current NAIA champion, having won the national title in May.
All three athletes qualified for the World Junior Championships by meeting the event standard as well as recording one of the two best times in Canada for their events this year.
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