Top junior Canadian track and field athletes compete at UPEI this weekend

UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place will be the competition venue for some of the best young track and field athletes in Canada this weekend. From July 17 to 19, close to 600 athletes and 120 coaches from across the country will gather at the University of Prince Edward Island to take part in the Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships.

UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place officially opened on July 13. It features a synthetic, 400-metre, eight-lane oval track; a water jump for steeplechase; a facility for long and triple jump, pole vault, discus and hammer throw, javelin throw and shot put; storage, washrooms, and spectator seating and viewing.

'The Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships give us a great opportunity to showcase the exceptional athletics facilities we now have in our province,' says Ron Annear, UPEI Athletics Director. 'We are delighted to be able to host this exciting national event.'

During the three days of competition, athletes will be vying for a place on the national junior team. Only 40 to 50 will go on to represent Canada in the Pan American Junior Championships coming up in two weeks in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The championships this weekend will also act as the official test event for the 2009 Canada Games scheduled to begin on August 15.

Admission to the Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships at UPEI is free, and everyone is invited to experience some of the best track and field competition in the country. The main action takes place from 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday, from 12:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Spectators will be able to enjoy gold medal events on Saturday and all day Sunday.

This year's Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships are being organized by a group called Moncton 2010. Next year, from July 19 to 25, the City of Moncton will host the international junior championships.