Burnaby, BC – Three Simon Fraser University track alumni are slated to compete for Canada in the upcoming Summer Universiade to be held in Kezan, Russia beginning on July 6.
Jessica Smith (North Vancouver, BC), Ryan Brockerville (Marystown, NL) and recent Clan graduate Helen Crofts (West Vancouver, BC) have all qualified to race for Canada.
Smith and Crofts will both race in the 800-metre while Brockerville has qualified for the steeplechase.
Smith wrapped up her Clan career during the 2011 cross country season when she finished second at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship meet, a year before Clan athletic teams were eligible for the NCAA post-season.
She went on to qualify for and compete in the 2012 London Olympics, reaching the semi-finals and becoming only the third Canadian woman to post a time under 2:00 in the 800-metre in history.
Smith hit the standard for the FISU Games several times this season and she will be attempting to qualify for the worlds during the Universiade by hitting the qualifying mark of 2:00 flat.
Crofts recently wrapped up her Clan career with her second NCAA Championship, winning the outdoor 800-metre title in Pueblo, CO after winning the indoor title earlier this year in Birmingham, AL.
Crofts won her second NCAA title less than six months after returning from a serious stress fracture. She qualified for the FISU Games at the Oxy High Performance Meet in Los Angeles, CA one week before the NCAA Championships.
Brockerville will represent Canada for the first time at the FISU Games.
He capped his Clan career with a championship in the steeplechase at the 2012 GNAC outdoor meet. He also qualified for the Games at the Oxy meet in California.
After the Games, Brockerville will continue competing in Europe.
Smith, Crofts and Brockerville are all former National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics champions.
Prior to heading to Russia, all three athletes will compete at the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.
