Barber, Theisen-Eaton to lead Canada’s team at indoor world track championships

OTTAWA – Pole vaulter Shawn Barber and heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton headline Canada’s team for the world indoor track and field championships.

Barber, from Toronto, is the reigning world outdoor champion, while Theisen-Eaton, from Humboldt, Sask., won silver at last summer’s world championships.

The team’s notable absences are Andre De Grasse, world bronze medallist in the 100 metres, world high jump champion Derek Drouin, and Melissa Bishop, world silver medallist in the 800 metres.

The meet is March 17-20 in Portland, Ore.

Theisen-Eaton looks to improve on the silver medal she won at the last world indoors in 2014, while Nicole Sifuentes of Winnipeg won bronze in the 1500 metres at the same meet.

Other Canadians who could make a mark in Portland include Mohammed Ahmed, Cam Levins and Tim Nedow.

Ahmed, from St. Catharines, Ont., is fresh off a Canadian indoor record performance in the 3,000 metres.

Levins, from Black Creek, B.C., holds the Canadian record in the 10,000 metres, while Nedow, from Brockville, Ont., is flirting with Dylan Armstrong’s Canadian indoor shot put record.

Rounding out the team are Mobolade Ajomale of Richmond Hill, Ont. (60 metres); Philip Osei, Toronto (400); Crystal Emmanuel, Toronto (60); Angela Whyte, Edmonton (60 hurdles); Gabriella Stafford, Toronto (1,500); Jessica O’Connell, Calgary and Sheila Reid, Newmarket, Ont., (3000) and Georgia Ellenwood, Langley, B.C., (pentathlon).