The future of Canadian athletics returns to the University of Victoria's Centennial Stadium with the 2023 Victoria Track Classic presented by RunSport Victoria Society on July 16, 2023. The Track Classic, launched in 1988 as a lead-up for athletes vying for the Seoul Olympics, attracts top international talent to UVic's campus acting as a springboard to global competitions for athletes competing in middle distances, sprints, and field events.

The Victoria Track Classic is the last stop on the Athletics Canada National Track and Field Tour, which kicked off in London, ON, in May, with meets occurring nationwide. For many Canadian athletes, the road to the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest and the 2024 Paris Olympics begins on tour with opportunities to qualify for nationals and the Canadian national team.

"The Track Classic is a great opportunity for Victoria to host an international competition with high-calibre athletes in attendance. It's a good tradition, and it's nice to be a stop on the Athletics Canada circuit. RunSport does an amazing job as a partner for this event and promoting running in the community with initiatives like the TC10K," said Hilary Stellingwerff, Vikes cross country and track head coach.

For UVic cross country and track athletes Tion McLeish and Ilona Zrinyi, it's a chance to compete against top-tier athletes and hopefully run some of their fastest times of the year.   

Second-year Vike, Tion Mcleish of Victoria, is coming off an outstanding performance at the Athletics BC Championship Jamboree from July 7-9th, where he finished on top of the podium in the U20 men's 800m and finished second in the 1500m. McLeish will compete in the men's 800m on Sunday, providing yet another opportunity to snag a fast time and qualify for nationals.

Zrinyi, a third-year student-athlete from Winnipeg, will compete in the ultra-competitive women's 1500m. The event will be a great chance to compete on home turf against a very fast group of women and hopefully hit a new PR.

"Tion is having a great season so far. How things go at the Harry Jerome Track Classic on Friday will dictate who races in Victoria and what category he will be placed in [at the Track Classic]. Either way, it's a great opportunity for him to take advantage of the group's speed and run a fast time," said Stellingwerff.

"Ilona has been super consistent all season, and she's ready for a big jump. Hopefully, racing against some of these elite women will push her to hit that PR she's been chasing," she continued.

Stellingwerff also coaches Victoria-based runner Kate Ayers who will compete in the 1500m— something she hasn't done much of since university. More recently, Ayers has been focussed on the 5,000m and 10,000m races, clocking a 15:50.71 5000m time in Portland, OR, on May 6. She'll test her 5,000m at the Harry Jerome Classic in Burnaby on Friday before Sunday's race.

Stellingwerff knows a thing or two about the 1500m, having competed in the London and Rio Olympic Games in that distance. "Kate's goals for Sunday will depend on how she feels after Friday's race, but the 1500m is an extremely tactical event, so it's good practice for her to gain experience and hopefully also run fast," said Stellingwerff.

Over the years, the Victoria Track Classic has hosted many Olympic, Paralympic and future international stars on their way to their running success. Local Victoria athletes and UVic alums such as Debbie Scott, Dave Campbell and Angela Chalmers were several regular highlights of the Track Classic in its early years, leading them onto international success in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

While the big event is undoubtedly a highlight for athletics enthusiasts, it also caters to families. With food trucks, inflatables, and a kids/alumni Thunder Run, there is something for everyone. During the Thunder Run, children line up to battle it out with the Vikes mascot, Thunder, in a 400m footrace.

Check out the full event schedule of events here.

If you can't make it, tune into the livestream here.