Summer plans for Derek Strachan, David Adeleye, Kevin Robertson, and John McGowan all now include a trip down south. The four gentlemen were included among the 57 athletes named by Athletics Canada’s to represent the red and white at the NACAC U18 and U23 Championships in Costa Rica as well as the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
Strachan will be Canada’s lone steeplechaser at the NACAC U18 Championships. The Glebe student qualified by way of his personal best effort this past weekend at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships. A grade 11 student, Strachan placed fifth in the 2000 metre steeplechase event on Friday in a time of 6 minutes and 11.57 seconds. Strachan becomes the Club’s first steeplechaser to be named to a national Under-18 team.
Joining Strachan in Costa Rica will be Adeleye and Robertson. For both athletes, this will not be the first time either has donned the red and white in international competition, although it will be a first for each on the track.
Adeleye, who will race the 110 metre hurdles in Costa Rica, is no stranger to international competition having represented Canada in 2019 as a member of the national Under-18 rugby squad. The University of Toronto student is coming off a strong indoor season that saw him set a new Club U23 record in the 60 metre hurdles. More recently, Adeleye dropped a personal best run of 13.92 seconds late last month at the Bob Vigars Classic.
The last time Kevin Robertson put on a Team Canada singlet he was battling difficult terrain at the Pan Am Cross Country Championships. This time, he’ll only have to contend with some barriers and a water pit as he lines up in the 3000 metre steeplechase. Robertson, a junior at Syracuse, is coming off an outstanding collegiate season where he earned All-American status following his 12th place finish at the NCAA Championships. In addition, Robertson set a new Club U23 record earlier this spring with an impressive 8:37.26 clocking.
Rounding out the list of national team members is John McGowan, who is headed to the island of Trinidad and Tobago to run the 100 metres at the Commonwealth Youth Games. A grade 11 student at St. Michael’s in Kemptville, McGowan qualified for the team by virtue of his winning 10.75 clocking at the East Regional High School Championship. McGowan, who had a best of 11.55 seconds entering the 2023 season, recently finished fifth at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships.
The NACAC U18/U23 Championships are scheduled for July 21-23 in San Jose while the Commonwealth Youth Games will run from August 4 to 11 in Port of Spain.