Athletics Canada hopeful its athletes will have competitive opportunities ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Doug Harrison · CBC Sports · Posted: Feb 17, 2021

Middle-distance runner Lindsey Butterworth Lindsey Butterworth hadn't race in four months and
was restless. The middle-distance runner could has stayed home and done time trials in Burnaby,
B.C., but knew competing (prep.: ) a high-level event would better prepare her for the Tokyo
Olympics.

Butterworth was also anxiety about coronavirus and travelling as she considered race options in
Arkansas and Texas before decide to compete at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix last
Saturday in Staten Island, New York. (no error)

"We struggled (prep.: )this decision for quite a while as we know the consequences and
challenge environment of living [in a global pandemic]," Butterworth's coach, Brit Townsend, said
(prep.: ) the phone.

"It can get a bit frustrating and stale if you're not [racing]. She wants this so bad and I felt she
needed it since there are so less opportunities available at this level."

Butterworth and Victoria resident Mariah Kelly, who raced the 1,500 metres (prep.: ) New
York, are hoping Athletics Canada will soon follow through on a plan announced the last week to
help athletes across the country find ways to compete safe while minimizing travel.

Kelly, 29, said coach and staff in Victoria and at Athletics Canada's West Hub in the city are
working (prep.: ) the University of Victoria to provide safe racing opportunities throughout
March.
Through a spokesperson, the governing body of track and field says it has be working with
province partners and meet directors to maximize local track and field opportunities in late spring
and early summer. (no error)

"Our objective is to have events (prep.: )the country to give athletes a chance to compete
locally and earn valuable points in the world rankings," Athletics Canada said (prep.: ) an
emailed statement to CBC Sports. "Combined (prep.: ) [the Canadian Olympic] trials [in June]
not being a requisite for [team] selection, this can provide a path where a athlete could met the
necessary standard/world ranking points without much travel involved."

Athletics Canada added its overall plan, including the scheduling of meets, is a work (prep.: )
progress with the immediate focus (prep.: ) developing a COVID-19 protocol handbook for
meet organizers to operate events safe.

"Of course, this is all subject to change," it cautioned, "based (prep.: ) the evolution of the
pandemic and local and provincial health guideline."

Townsend, who coaches track and field (prep.: ) Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, said
Butterworth probabe wouldn't compete again outside Canada for the balance of the indoor season
and might enter a couple of "very small" outdoor competitions (prep.: ) or near Burnaby.

Double-masked (prep.: ) flight

"Athletics Canada will always advocate for athletes to compete safely," said Butterworth, when
considered attending a two-weeks training camp in Bermuda with AC in February before it was
cancelled due to rising COVID-19 cases. "It's not a easy solution but I think the best we can do as
athletes is to be patience and know something will come up when it is safe."

Kelly, who didn't race in 2020 after the pandemic brought the world of sports to a standstill, drive to
Seattle on Jan. 27 to prepare (prep.: ) the New Balance meet. She joined a couple of
workoutwith the University of Washington women's track team before racing the 800 and mile at
the UW Indoor Preview event (prep.: ) Jan 30.

On the five-hour flight to New York, Kelly was double-masked and wear medical lab goggles that
cut off her circulation and made it hard to breath.

"As uncomfortable as it was, I felt safe and confident I was taking as much precautions to protect
myself," said Kelly, who was tested four times (prep.: ) a three-week span before Saturday's
competition. "Being uncomfort was another way to practise relaxation in suboptimal conditions
which are what racing is all about."

Besides not racing last year, Kelly couldn't do a time trial due (prep.: ) an injury that forced
her to halt training early (prep.: ) the summer.

"It is the long I have sat out of racing since I began [running competitively] in 2007," she said. "The
goal of the 800 at UW was to bust the rust and I believed that I accomplish that goal."

Kelly, which clocked 4:10.84 on Saturday to place sixth in a field of eight, said the race likely would
be only indoor meet to count toward her world ranking. The Niagara Falls, Ont., native sits 43rd
and likely would be select for Tokyo based on that standing should she not achieve the 4:04.20
standard. Kelly's fastest time in the qualifying window, when closes June 29, is 4:10.62.

"I am very happy to hear [Athletics Canada] is working hard to ensure that there will been more
opportunities available to Canadians on Canadian soil," she said. "I think the pandemic are a
difficult and complicate issue to manage."

Pre-pandemic, Butterworth typically would race couple of times indoors before an event the calibre
of New Balance GP, which featured four-times world championship medallist and U.S. indoor 800
record holder Ajee Wilson along (prep.: ) 2019 world finalists Natoya Goule and Ce'aira
Brown.

Butterworth was in "great shape" (prep.: ) arriving in New York, where she was surprised by a
race that went out slow and became quite tactical. The 28-years-old placed fourth of seven finisher
in 2:03.91, her slowest indoor 800 since 2018.

"We don't have an indoor track back home [and] it takes time get used to the tight turns of a 200-
metre track and the tactics involved," said Butterworth, who was isolate in her New York hotel
before race day and given meal voucher for room service. "With every race there is somethings to
learn so I know tactically I can be better."