CBC Sports has learned world decathlon champion Pierce LePage, who has only competed in one event this outdoor season, will not be competing at the Canadian Olympic Athletics trials that begin on Wednesday and run until Sunday at Complexe Sportif Claude Robillard in Montreal.
"The AC CMO will only grant medical exemptions from competing at the Canadian championships on the basis that the athlete has sustained an injury or illness which prevents them from competing at the championships," the Athletics Canada document says. Damian Warner is the defending Olympic champion in the decathlon. He won an historic eighth Gotzis title in May and appears to be in fine form going into another Games.
Athletics Canada has broken up the competition days based on theme nights, beginning on Wednesday with what they're calling "Heavy Metal Night," that focuses on hammer throw.That's followed by "Distance Night," on Thursday featuring Moh Ahmed and Jean-Simon Desgagnes. On Friday evening in Montreal the action heats up with "Speed Night," highlighted by Aaron Brown and De Grasse in the 100m.
There was a level of concern last week about track conditions at Complexe Sportif Claude Robillard when Athletics Canada issued a last-minute statement saying La Classique d'athlétisme de Montréal had to be relocated.