Thursday's Harry Jerome International Track Classic Features Some of the Best From Canada and U.S.

By Adam Kopet

The Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic gets underway Thursday evening in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and will feature a strong group of American women.

ENTRIES | LIVE WEBCAST INFO

Lynna Irby, who turned pro in the middle of her sophomore year at Georgia, will be making her professional 400-meter debut at Harry Jerome. She ran her first pro race Sunday at the adidas Boost Boston Games, finishing second in the straight 200 meters in 23.24.

Before turning pro this year, Irby won the 400 meters at the 2018 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, running 49.80. That places her second on the collegiate all-time list behind Courtney Okolo.

At Harry Jerome, Irby will take on a field of six Canadians as she builds confidence heading into next month's USATF Outdoor Championships.

The women's international 1,500 meters has a strong American presence with the top-four seeds coming from south of the border. Amanda Eccleston, Stephanie Garcia, Shannon Osika and Eleanor Fulton are all in the field. Rebecca Mehra is also entered.

Other notable women competing include Shalaya Kipp in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Jasmine Todd in the 100 meters and long jump, and both Hanna Green and Sabrina Southerland in the 800 meters.

The men's fields are not as strong, but they do feature several prominent Americans. Eric Avila is scheduled to race the 1,500 meters and Reid Buchanan will race the 3,000 meters. Also in the 3,000 are collegians Tanner Anderson and Yacine Guermali, competing for Washington and Gonzaga, respectively.

The field events feature Ricky Robertson in the high jump and Riley Dolezal in the javelin.