BC Athletics is pleased to announce the Team BC coaching staff that will lead a team of 58 athletes at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg. 

"The Canada Summer Games are an instrumental program for our athletes. This type of high-level multisport competition will provide them with valuable experience that will help them immensely at future competitions.  BC athletes have historically performed very well at the Canada Summer Games and we expect that this year's team will continue to achieve excellence," said Chris Winter, Technical Manager, BC Athletics.

Head Coach, Allen Johnston of Nanaimo brings seven previous Games experiences to the team including coaching at the 2009 Canada Summer Games and 2015 Western Canada Summer Games.  Johnston is a NCCP Master Coach in middle distance.

"I am looking forward to this Canada Summer Games competition and the great hospitality from our Prairie hosts. It will be my seventh Games that I've been involved in as a coach and each Games has been very unique and has provided great memories and performances. I expect this year to be the same," said Allen Johnston, Head Coach, Team BC
 
Coaching Staff
Allen Johnston, Head Coach - Endurance, (Nanaimo)
Neil Currie, Assistant Coach Sprints, Hurdles, Relays (Smithers)
Laurie Willet, Assistant Coach Throws (Victoria)
Elena Voloshin, Assistant Coach Jumps/Combined Events (Vancouver)
James Hustvedt, Para Team Coach (Vancouver)
Lisa Myers, Para Team Coach (Vancouver)
Deborah Carter, Special Olympics Coach (Surrey)
Paul Little, Team Manager (Nanaimo)
Beverly Larssen, Team Manager (Vancouver)  

The athletics competition also includes wheelchair racing, para throws, and Special Olympics events.  Athletes will qualify to represent Team BC in athletics at a selection meet on June 10 and 11 in Coquitlam.  Special Olympics selection will take place on June 16 and 17 in Langley. 

The 2017 Canada Summer Games run July 28 to August 13 with the athletics competition scheduled for week one of the Games, July 28 to August 4.  

About BC Athletics
BC Athletics is the Provincial non-profit amateur sport organization for Track & Field, Road Running, Marathons/Ultras, Cross Country/Trail Running and Race Walking. A Branch member of Athletics Canada, BC Athletics is made up of individual members, member clubs and affiliated organizations. The purpose of the Association is to promote, encourage and develop the widest participation and the highest proficiency in the sport of Athletics.  For more information visit  www.bcathletics.org.  

About Team BC 
Team BC will bring together a delegation of 450 athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff to represent British Columbia at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.  Team BC athletes are the best young developing talent in this province and are our future national and international champions.  Team BC alumni include Ryan Cochrane (Swimming), Lindsay Jennerich (Rowing) and Bo Hedges (Wheelchair Basketball).  For more information visit www.teambc.org.

About the Canada Games
The Canada Games are a national multi-sport competition with participation from every province and territory in Canada. The Games are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer. The 2017 Canada Summer Games will be held July 28 to August 13 in Winnipeg, bringing together approximately 4000 athletes, coaches and managers from every province and territory to compete in 16 sports.  The Canada Games will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2017 coinciding with Canada’s 150th birthday.  For more information visit www.canadagames.ca. 

Coaching Staff

	Al Johnston, Nanaimo • 2016 Canadian Senior/Junior Track & Field Championships – Head Coach • 2016 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Team Coach • 2015 Western Canada Games – Head Coach • 2009 Canada Summer Games – Team Coach • 2001 IAAF World Track & Field Championships – Team Coach • 2001 Canada Summer Games – Team Coach • 1997 Francophone Games – Team Coach • IAAF World Race Walk Championships – Team Coach • Coached Men’s Canadian Marathon Record Holder
	Neil Currie, Smithers • 2015 Western Canada Games – Sprints, Hurdles & Relay Coach • 2014 Legion National Track & Field Championships – Sprints, Hurdles & Relay Coach • 2013 Legion National Track & Field Championships – Sprints, Hurdles & Relay Coach •Highlight as a Team BC coach is the relay results at 2015 Western Canada Summer Games. TeamBC won 3 gold and 1 bronze in the 4 relays, including a time by our 4x100m team that in Canada for 2015, was only bested by Canadian Senior National Teams.  • The enjoyment of coaching for me comes from helping dedicated athletes improve
	Laurie Willett, Victoria • 2016 Legion National Track & Field Championships – Throws Coach • 2015 Western Canada Games - Throws Coach • Watching my Son Win Gold in the Hammer at the 2015 Western Canada Games  • Working with young athletes and watching them exceed their expectations in competition after months of hard training.
	Elena Voloshin, Vancouver • 2016 World Junior Track & Field Championships - Sprints/Hurdles  • 2015 Legion National Track & Field Championships - Jumps/CE  • 2015 World Youth Track & Field Championships - Jumps/CE  • 2014 Canadian Junior Track & Field Championships - Jumps/CE  • 2009, 2011 and 2013 World Youth Track & Field Championships - Jumps/CE  • 2009 Canada Summer Games - Jumps/CE Coach • 2005- 2007 Canadian Junior Track & Field Championships - Jumps/CE C
	James Hustvedt, North Vancouver • BCWSA’s Provincial Wheelchair Athletics coach since 2005 • Coaches athletes from a first contact stage to Paralympic level; most notably coached Nathan Dewitt into achieving a top eight finish at the London 2012 Paralympic Games • Wheelchair Athletics Coach for Team BC at the 2005, 2009, and 2013 Canada Summer Games and at the 2007, 2011, and 2015 Western Summer Games (making this his 7th games) • He practices what he preaches – he was a former racer prior to coaching and still competes in road race events such as the Vancouver Sun Run and Honolulu Marathon.
	Lisa Myers, Vancouver • BCWSA’s Provincial Seated Throws Coach since 2013 • Has taken the BCWSA Seated Throws program from a recreation program to a thriving competitive group, with the notable performance of a podium sweep in the men’s seated throws discus category at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials • Staff/manager at the 2013 Canada Summer Games and the 2015 Western Summer Games with the wheelchair athletics group.  • Named as a team coach for the 2017 World ParaAthletics Championships in London, UK.
	Deborah Carter, Surrey 2015 Western Canada Summer Games 2015 Special Olympics World Games LA2015 2014 BC Summer Games 2014 National Special Olympic Games 2013 Special Olympics Provincial Games 2012 BC Summer Games 1998 National Special Olympic Games 1996 BC Summer Games 1994 International Special Olympics Games 1991 BC Summer Games
	Paul Little, Nanaimo • 2015 Western Canada Summer Games – TeamBC Team Manager • 2015 Senior/Junior National Track & Field Championships – Team Manager • 2014 Legion National Track & Field Championships – Team Manager • 9 years of coaching experience, specializing in the High Jump, with athletes of all ages
	Beverly Larssen, Vancouver • Lead coach of the Kajaks Track & Field Club Racewalk and Junior Development Track and Field programs (2012-2016) • Coached two athletes to top 8 finishes at the 2016 BC High School Track & Field Championships in Senior Women 1500 meter Racewalk • Awarded the 2016 BC Athletics Junior Development Coaching Excellence Award • 2015 BC/Yukon Legion National Track & Field Team – Team Manager