2019

2019

Regan Yee narrowly missed qualifying for the IAAF World Championships in the women’s 3,000 m steeplechase despite winning the event at the Harry Jerome Track Classic, setting a meet record of 9:40.06 — just 0.06 seconds too slow for the world-championship standard. After overcoming illness earlier in the season, she showed grit and strong race tactics, closing hard in the final lap and outpacing Australian Rosie Donegan. Yee expressed frustration that a slightly better lean at the finish would have made all the difference. She plans to continue chasing the qualifying time at upcoming events, including possibly the B.C. Championships in Kamloops.

Meanwhile, Phylicia George, from Markham, Ontario, is celebrated as a two-season Olympian and standout athlete in both track and bobsleigh. Originally a hurdler, she was recruited in 2017 by Olympic bobsled pilot Kaillie Humphries, who asked her to build strength and compete as her brakeman. George gained about 20 pounds to adapt to the demands of bobsled, and together they went on to win gold and silver in World Cup events — culminating in a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, making George one of the few Canadian women to compete in both Summer and Winter Games.

At the 2019 Harry Jerome Classic, George ran both the 100 metres and 100-metre hurdles. She won the hurdles in 13.23 seconds and ran 11.58 in the 100, admitting she was a little tired with only 23 minutes between events. She noted her season highlight: hitting the World Championship standard in the hurdles with a time of 12.90 seconds (under the 12.98 qualifying mark). Her goals include making her fourth Olympic team (Tokyo 2020) and returning to future World Championships — all while balancing her track career with her experience in bobsleigh.

Meanwhile, at the same meet, Canadian sprinter Aaron Brown won the men’s 100 m in 10.30 seconds. He noted it wasn’t his fastest time but was focused on staying healthy and preparing for future races.