Canadian athletes try to clear last hurdle before Olympics

Nearly 1,000 Canadian track and field athletes are in Calgary this week, going their fastest, highest and farthest in their bid to win spots on the Olympic team.

The Canadian Track and Field trials are on at Foothills Athletic Park from Wednesday through Saturday.

Athletes will compete in a range of track events including the 100-metre, 200-metre, 400-metre and 800-metre finals, the men's and women's hurdles, and field events with high jump, long jump, shotput, javelin and hammer throw all being contested.

Athletics Canada spokesman Mathieu Gentes says the trials will have a big economic impact on Calgary.

"We've got about 150 or 200 coaches that are here," Gentes said.

"We've got media from across Canada that's here, therapists, friends, family. So in terms of the economic impact, again, on Calgary, it's a fairly significant impact."

Sprinter Justyn Warner said heis just hoping for a little sunshine during the event.

“We're used to this, you know," Warner said.

"We're Canadians, so we train in Toronto. It's kind of cold [but] at the same time we're outside for a long time. We have to make the best of it and right now you've got to leave everything on the track to get on that Olympic team."

CBC's coverage from Foothills Athletic Park in Calgary begins Friday with live streaming on CBCSports.ca from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. MT, followed on Saturday with two hours of live coverage on CBC Television from 2 to 4 p.m.

Saturday's coverage will also be streamed live online on CBCSports.ca.