Want to Race against Luguelin Santos?

Two more big names were announced today for the Edmonton International Track Classic (EITC) on July 6 at the University of Alberta’s Foote Field in Edmonton.

Top finishers from the 100m, 200m, 400, and 800m on the open day will receive berths in the invitational event the following day.

Women’s 100m hurdler Angela Whyte, of Edmonton and Olympic silver medalist Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic will both take part in the event. They join American sprinter Justin Gatlin, Warren Weir from Jamaica, Canadian high jumper Derek Drouin and Olympic gold medalist Francena McCorory of the US, in headlining the star-studded competition.

Whyte is one of the best Canadian female hurdlers in history and has appeared in two Olympics. She represented Canada in every world championship in athletics from 2001-2009. She’s a two-time silver medalist at the Commonwealth Games in the 100m hurdles and a multiple medalist at the Pan American Games.

Luguelin Santos won the 400m silver medal at the London Olympics at the age of 18 and the bronze at last year’s world championships in Moscow. Santos has run the third-fastest time in the 400m this year and will be looking to defend last year’s title after winning the 400m at EITC.

This year will see an open day of competition on Saturday, July 5, the day before the invitational meet.  Top finishers from the 100m, 200m, 400, and 800m on the open day will receive berths in the invitational event the following day. 

EITC Meet Director Peter Ogilvie says, “With stellar campaigns in the 2013 season and a great start to 2014, we are excited to welcome Whyte and Santos back to the 2014 EITC. At last year’s event Angela battled American Lolo Jones in what was one of the best races of the meet. Santos is special too. Despite being a youngster, he has both Olympic and world championship medals and we look forward to seeing him run here in TrackTown Canada as he tries to run the 400m in under 44-seconds.”

The schedule for the Edmonton International Track Classic is now available on the EITC website. This year, on the day before the July 6 invitational event, qualification competitions will be held in a number of events at Foote Field. The top finishers will get the opportunity to compete in the Track Classic the following afternoon.

Anyone wishing to compete on July 5 can still register on Trackie.ca.

Tickets are on sale for the Track Classic and more information is available on the EITC website, including an online accreditation form that needs to be completed by all working members of the media covering the event.