About
The Jerome Classic1964
The Jerome Classic in Vancouver, BC, began in 1964 titled the ‘The International Olympic Preview’ as a build-up and preview of the Tokyo Olympics. Harry Jerome used the event for a triumphant comeback on route to a Bronze medal in the 100 metres for Canada at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The event was later named the ‘Achilles Meet‘.
The Jerome Classic was first hosted by the Achilles International Track & Field Society, a non-profit society registered in British Columbia. This group hosted the event through 2023 before partnering with the non-profit Vancouver International Marathon Society RUNVAN.
1984
In 1984, the ‘Achilles Meet‘ event was renamed the ‘Harry Jerome Track Classic‘ in loving memory of the legendary Canadian Olympic sprinter Harry Winston Jerome who passed in ’82 after inspiring generations with his remarkable talent and commitment to community.
Over time, the Harry Jerome Track Classic became a renowned stage for global track and field stars, attracting top athletes, Olympic champions, and rising stars, witnessing historic performances by Olympic medalist athletes like Damien Warner, Andre De Grasse, Evan Dunfee and others.
2024
In 2024, under new partnership with non-profit RUNVAN and the Achilles International Track and Field Society, the event was renamed to ‘The Jerome Classic‘ to also incorporate the accomplishments of Harry’s sibling, Valerie Jerome, another Canadian Olympian, and their grandfather, John Armstrong Howard, Canada’s first Black Olympic athlete.
The Meet continues to be named after Harry Jerome for his epic athletic performances, and commitment to supporting youth development and the local athletic community. The meet reminds generations to pursue excellence, demonstrate sportsmanship, plus assist community and youth development
You’ll want to be here.
The Jerome Classic is a place where the best push what’s possible. Annually, the Jerome Classic attracts track and field’s top athletes both locally and internationally. The Jerome Classic is consistently named by World Athletics as ranking in the Top 10% of all track and field competitions in the world.
Achilles International Track and Field Society
The Achilles Society’s mission is to carry forward Harry Jerome’s legacy by inspiring athletes of all ages across British Columbia through world-class track and field competition.
They organize two annual events that support athlete development, from grassroots to high-performance levels:
• Jerome Classic – Delivered in partnership with RUNVAN®
• Harry Jerome Indoor Games – Operated independently by the Achilles Society
The Indoor Games take place at the Richmond Olympic Oval, an Olympic legacy venue, and provide competition opportunities for athletes ages 12 to 80.
The Achilles Society is powered entirely by dedicated volunteers who contribute countless hours both on and off the track, supporting logistics, athlete services, medical coverage, hosting, transportation, accommodations, meals, and marketing to ensure these events continue to thrive and help BC athletes compete on the international stage.
Board of Directors
President: Ken Poskitt
Vice-President: Lynn Kanuka
Secretary: Allan Klassen
Treasurer: Brian Blamey
Past President: Marek Jedrezek
Members at Large:
• Andrea Nicholson
• Andre Smith
• Alvin Chow
• Chris Hancock
• John Wheeler
• Nigel Hole
• Fred Pawluck
• Liz Jones
Results
The Jerome Classic is a ticketed spectator event. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be a part of track and field history. Grab your tickets and witness the action. 2024 saw four Meet records broken, after five Meet records were broken in 2023. Pre-purchase to save.