Jerome Classic 2025 Wrap: Sarah Mitton Sets Record, De’Vion Wilson Shines
L-R: De’vion Wilson in the 110m Hurdles at the Jerome Classic 2025.
By Gary Kingston
BURNABY – Sarah Mitton found some extra juice at the end of a gruelling stretch of throwing and travel and De’Vion Wilson completed a hurdling sweep of Canada by breaking a 37-year-old meet record to highlight the 2025 Jerome Classic at Swangard Stadium.
With temperatures approaching 30 Celsius on Tuesday, making for a hot and humid afternoon/evening at Swangard Stadium, the action was just as sizzling.
Mitton, the two-time world indoor shot put champion from Brooklyn, N.S., had spun across the circle in Portland, Ore., Monaco, and Edmonton over the previous 10 days, but still managed a best throw of 20.14 metres to better her own meet record of 19.83 set in 2023.
“I feel better today than I did in Edmonton,” said Mitton, who managed a best of 19.46 on Sunday night. “I got in pretty late in Edmonton, like 2 a.m., and had to compete pretty early.
“So to get the meet record here… I’m trying to be more consistent in the 20s (she also had a throw of 20.05 at Swangard). Two days ago was the first time I’ve thrown under 20 (this season).
“It was understandable, but I love the consistency. That’s what leads to the bigger throws. And to find it here when I wasn’t super fresh is really exciting.”
Mitton, who has a silver medal from the 2023 outdoor world championships, is headed to Tokyo in September for the 2025 Worlds. She has a busy schedule between now and then, including a couple of Diamond League events in Europe, but looks poised to make another run at the podium.
Wilson, a first-year-pro out of the University of Houston, won the men’s 110 metre hurdles in 13.44 to just slip past Canadian legend Mark McCoy’s Jerome record of 13:45 from 1988.
“Oh, wow,” he said when informed the meet record was now his. “I barely got it.”
Dubbed the ‘Silent Killer’ by Will Blackburn, the Cougars director of track and field, for his pleasant, easy-going demeanor off the track, Wilson began his one-month sprint/leap across Canada by winning the Johnny Loaring Classic in Windsor, Ont., on June 15. He followed that with wins in Guelph, Ont., London, Ont., and Edmonton before vanquishing the field at the Jerome.
“I’m just staying consistent,” said Wilson of his winning streak. “Not trying to rush anything or be over aggressive. I’m just trying to stick to the same race plan every race.”
Wilson’s hurdles coach, Alex Harris, said Wilson’s key is his foot speed between the hurdles. “He’s the best I’ve seen after the fifth hurdle.”
Wilson’s 13.22 time in winning in London is under the world championship qualifying standard, but there are 13 Americans ahead of him in the Road to Tokyo rankings, so he’ll need to be top three at the U.S. nationals later this summer to make the world championship team.
“I wish it was that easy,” he said of making the U.S. team after reaching the qualifying standard, “but I think I should be there.”
American Marcellus Moore won the men’s 100 metres in a very fast 10.07 seconds, just off Canadian Donovan Bailey’s meet record of 9.99 set in 1997.
In the last month, Moore finished fourth at Windsor, second in Guelph, set a personal best of 9.96 in winning in London and was second in Edmonton.
“It’s definitely built up my confidence, great competition, great atmosphere,” said the five-foot-seven Moore. “I love being up here in Canada.”
Joseph Amoah, a Ghanian who beat Moore to the line in Edmonton, was fourth at the Jerome in 10.32.
“We’ve been going back and forth for quite a while,” said Moore. “We’ve been keeping count and I’m 4-and-3 now.”
“Oh, of course,” Moore said when asked if he’ll remind Amoah that he’s one up head-to-head. “That’s my guy, though. He’s great competition. I enjoy racing against him and we have a lot of fun.”
The highly-anticipated men’s 800 didn’t quite deliver. Rising Canadian runner Matti Erickson scratched after going 1:44.49 in Los Angeles on Saturday, just under the world championship qualifying standard. And Jamaican record holder Navasky Anderson, who also obtained the worlds qualifying standard in winning in LA, ran as a pacer at Swangard on Tuesday.
The race was won by Handal Roban of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1:45.78, two seconds off the meet record. Allon Gray of Penn State University was second in 1:46.78, while Anderson, after a strong opening lap, faded to finish third in 1:46.92, more than two seconds off his national record.
“I’ve been on the road for six weeks, definitely tired,” said Anderson. “Sunday was a big day, but this was my first time to Canada, so I wanted to show. I came here today and tried to run from the front… and start working on some things I don’t normally do.”
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Mitton en feu et Wilson historique au Jerome Classic 2025
Des performances de haut niveau et des records nationaux battus devant les spectateurs de Swangard Stadium
BURNABY – Sarah Mitton a trouvé un surplus d’énergie après une période intense de compétitions et de déplacements, tandis que De’Vion Wilson a marqué l’histoire en battant un record du Jerome Classic vieux de 37 ans, soulignant le Jerome Classic 2025 à Swangard Stadium.
Avec des températures proches de 30°C mardi, l’après-midi et la soirée ont été chaudes et humides, mais l’action sur la piste était tout aussi brûlante.
Mitton, double championne du monde en salle du lancer du poids, originaire de Brooklyn (Nouvelle-Écosse), venait de concourir à Portland, Monaco et Edmonton au cours des dix derniers jours, mais elle a réussi un lancer à 20,14 m, battant son propre record du meeting de 19,83 m établi en 2023.
« Je me sens mieux aujourd’hui qu’à Edmonton », a déclaré Mitton, qui avait réalisé 19,46 m dimanche soir. « J’étais arrivée tard à Edmonton, vers 2 h du matin, et j’ai dû concourir assez tôt. Alors battre le record du meeting ici… je cherche surtout à être plus constante dans les 20 mètres. »
Mitton, médaillée d’argent aux Championnats du monde 2023 en extérieur, se dirige vers Tokyo en septembre pour les Mondiaux 2025. Son agenda est chargé jusqu’à là, avec notamment quelques étapes de la Diamond League en Europe, mais elle est prête à viser à nouveau le podium.
De’Vion Wilson brille au Jerome Classic 2025
Wilson, professionnel en première année à l’Université de Houston, a remporté le 110 m haies masculin en 13,44 s, dépassant de justesse le record du Jerome de la légende canadienne Mark McCoy (13,45 s en 1988).
« Wow, » a-t-il dit en apprenant que le record du meeting était désormais le sien. « Je l’ai à peine fait. »
Surnommé le « Tueur Silencieux » par Will Blackburn, directeur de l’athlétisme des Cougars, pour son calme et son caractère agréable hors piste, Wilson a entamé son mois de compétitions à travers le Canada en remportant le Johnny Loaring Classic à Windsor le 15 juin. Il a ensuite enchaîné avec des victoires à Guelph, London et Edmonton avant de dominer au Jerome.
« Je reste juste constant, » a dit Wilson à propos de sa série de victoires. « Je n’essaie pas de précipiter les choses ou d’être trop agressif. Je me concentre simplement sur le même plan de course à chaque compétition. »
Son entraîneur de haies, Alex Harris, souligne que la clé de Wilson réside dans sa rapidité entre les haies : « C’est le meilleur que j’ai vu après la cinquième haie. »
Performances remarquables et records nationaux
Lors de la course de marche de 3 000 m, qui faisait ses débuts au Jerome Classic 2025, trois records nationaux ont été battus :
- Evan Dunfee améliore son propre record de plus de cinq secondes avec un temps de 11:02,07.
- Olivia Lundman, sa coéquipière olympique, établit un nouveau record national U23 avec 12:56,26.
- Maya Piesik bat le record U18 de Lundman avec un temps de 14:21,83.
Chez les femmes au lancer du poids, Sarah Mitton a également brillé avec un lancer à 20,14 m, améliorant son record du meeting. Dans les catégories Para et fauteuil, Charlotte Bolton et Julia Hanes ont également battu leurs propres records nationaux respectifs.
Le Jerome Classic 2025 a été un véritable festival d’athlétisme, avec des performances exceptionnelles, des records nationaux et l’énergie contagieuse des spectateurs, des bénévoles et des participants venus de tout le pays.
