Andre De Grasse has run a sub-10 second 100 m before and he said he will do it again when he attends the Harry Jerome Track Classic in Coquitlam this summer.
The 22-year-old Scarborough, Ont., sprinter said he was told the track at Percy Perry is newer and in better condition, which should allow him to accomplish the feat.
“I am looking forward to impressing the crowd with a sub-10 second performance,” he said during a conference call with media last week.
It would not be the first time De Grasse has achieved the time.
He took bronze during the Rio Olympics last summer after running a 9.91 in the 100 m, after finishing with a 9.92 in the semifinals.
At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, he ran the 100 m in 10.05 after earlier finishing with a 9.97 in the semifinals. He also ran a wind-assisted 9.75 during the 2015 NCAA championship, making him the seventh fastest man in the world and the fastest Canadian.
De Grasse said he was looking forward to competing in Coquitlam this June, which will be one of only two opportunities for him to run on home soil this year.
“It is very important to me,” he said. “As you know, I don’t get a lot of chances to compete in Canada… Every time I get the opportunity to compete in Canada, that is what I want to do.”
De Grasse competed in last year’s Harry Jerome Track Classic, which was held at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.
He won gold in both the 100 and 200-metre races at the event, which was the springboard to the Rio Olympics, where he took silver in the 200 m and bronze in the 100 and 400 m relays.
“Last year, I had a lot of success at that meet,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to coming back this year and enjoying all the fans.”
• The Harry Jerome Track Classic will take place at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam on June 28. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for youth and a $47.50 family of four ticket is available. For more information go to www.harryjerome.com.
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