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2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials

August 13 2016 // Foote Field, Edmonton, AB

Spending four long days in the hot sun, and pouring rain, at Foote Field taking photographs of the 2016 Track & Field Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials takes a lot of energy. The photos below are some of my favourites that I managed to capture of these amazing athletes that made all the effort worth it.

Up close photo of pure elation on the face of Charles Philibert-Thiboutot with his arms spread wearing a bright orange uniform as he crosses the finish line securing his 1500m win and spot in Rio.

Two women with hands on each others shoulders have huge smiles on their faces as they celebrate the realization they are going to Rio.

Carline Muir's Olympic moment after winning the Women's 400M Final at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Taylor Milne's Olympic moment in the Men's 3000M Steeplechase at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

A group of people all smiling and in disbelief surround and celebrate friend and teammate Maria Bernard qualifying for Rio as Maria hugs a friend in the foreground.

Favourite Derek Drouin captures the crowd despite falling just short of a championship record in Men's High Jump at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

A women wearing a blue and yellow jersey reaching up and over the high jump bar with a blurred out blue background.

Paul Galas in his University of Indiana colours seemingly bends in half backwards over the high-jump bar in front of a blurred out colourful sea of spectators.

Chuba Hubbard of Edmonton Columbians track club about to set for his 100M Junior Championship run of 10.69 at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Carline Muir out of the blocks on her Olympic qualifying 400M run of 51.79 at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Preliminary 100M Men's heat blurs past a full grand stand at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

A high contrast wide angle image from the ground looks up at the pack of female runners rounding the corner with a blue and white sky above the grandstand in the background.

Nicole Sifuentes leads the pack into the turn early in the Women's 1500M Final at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Jenna Westaway running in the pack of the women's 800m semi-final at the Rio Qualifier in Edmonton, AB in July, 2016.

Photo from the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Early lap water jump during the Women's 3000M Steeplechase final at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Crystal Emmanuel, Shai-Anne Davis, and Whitney Rowe get out of the blocks during the Women's 100M Final at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Andre De Grasse in the 100M Men's Final at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Brianne Theisen-Eaton warms up for the shot put portion of her Heptathlon qualification.

With long days, long shadows were fun to play with. I like the Greek statue feel to this photograph of a shot putter after releasing the shot.

Damian Warner jumping to a second place 7.57m Men's Long Jump during competition at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Men's Long Jump during competition at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Men's Long Jump during competition at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Jharyl Bowry pops out of the long jump pit during competition at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Men's Long Jump during competition at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Even when you win, sometimes you lose. This was the most difficult photo for me to take tonight, but Jharyl said it was okay. Despite winning the Canadian Championships, Jharyl Bowry didn’t jump the Olympic Standard and won’t be going to Rio.

Sitting on the track with tears in his eyes sobbing—a Canadian Champion. This young man shows so much emotion with every jump, it wasn’t a surprise to see this reaction when the reality of his Olympic dreams sunk in.

Like so many of the athletes I’ve shot, and chatted with this weekend, Jharyl is exceptional. He smiled and complimented my moustache earlier in the day. And after his last jump of the competition—despite obvious disappointment—he made sure he thanked each and every single official around the pit before succumbing to his inner thoughts and emotions.

It was an honour to take your picture Jharyl, soaring through the air or sitting on the track, and a pleasure to watch you entertain a crowd while you jump. Thank-you so much for your effort tonight. It truly embodied the spirt of sport, and worthy of a true Canadian Champion.

2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials on Friday July 8, 2016 at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Donovan Bailey track side after the Men's 100M Final at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Melissa Bishop discusses her early heat win in the women's 800M race at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials on Friday July 8, 2016 at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Photo of Jenna Westaway after her 800m qualification run at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials on Friday July 8, 2016 at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Carline Muir shortly after qualifying for Rio at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Andre De Grasse after his preliminary 100M Men's heat at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Henry Gizmo Williams after the celebrity 100M race at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Shai-Anne Davis stays warm on-track during a rain delay at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB Canada.

Studio portrait of three Jody's, each wearing a different colour of hat, t-shirt, and sweater

Jody Bailey is an Edmonton Alberta Canada based travelling photojournalist, and has been telling stories since he started walking. Follow @3oh6 on Instagram, Twitter, or...ugh...Strava.

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