Aaron Brown, Audrey Leduc cap Olympic athletic trials as men’s, women’s 200-metre champs
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Aaron Brown will be competing in the 200 metres at the Paris Olympics.
The Toronto native won the national title in the event with a time of 20.09 seconds at the Canadian Olympic track and field trials on Sunday. It is the 12th time Brown has won the national championships in either the 200m or 100m.
He finished ahead of Brendon Rodney (20.34) and Jerome Blake (20.41), his teammates in the 4×100 relay. It will be the fourth Olympic appearance for the 32-year-old Brown.
Audrey Leduc followed suit, winning the women’s 200 title with a time of 20.77 seconds for her first national championship. The Gatineau, Que., native already bested the Olympic standard of 22.57 back on May 31, with a 22.36 at a meet in Atlanta.
WATCH | Full recap of the final day of the Canadian Olympic & Paralympic Athletics Trials:
Four athletes received their big plane ticket to signify an Olympic or Paralympic qualification on the final day of competition at the 2024 Olympics & Paralympic Trials. Aaron Brown won the men’s 200m, and on the women’s side Audrey Leduc added the 200m title to the 100m national title she earned Friday. Hear from them plus Paralympic champion Greg Stewart and more in the final Athletics North recap from athletics trials.
“I did not see this coming. I was hoping to qualify for the relay and the 100 metres via the world ranking, but I didn’t expect the 200 metres, too,” Leduc told Athletics Canada. “I’ve done the Quebec Games and the Canada Games, and the Olympic Games is just the big thing, every four years. I’m just excited to get there, represent Canada as best I can, and run fast.
“On the track said, I want to qualify for the finals. On the personal side, I want to collect as many pins as I can.”
Malik Metivier won the men’s 400 hurdles title and Sage Walker took the women’s title. In the 1,500, Kieran Lumb was victorious on the men’s side while Lucia Stafford won the women’s race.
Mark Bujnowski won the men’s shot put title, Alexia Schofield grabbed the women’s title in the triple jump and Olorunfemi Akinduro took the men’s triple jump.
Canada’s official Olympic athletics team will be named on Tuesday.
WATCH | Aaron Brown in conversation with Ariel Helwani:
Canadian sprinter Aaron Brown – a two-time Olympic medallist in the 4x100m relay – sits down with CBC Olympics host Ariel Helwani to look ahead to Paris 2024. Brown discusses his teammates, goals, and what winning an individual medal would mean to him.
