“Perfect blend of outdoors and city” as athletes give positive reviews of the Swangard Stadium track at the 2025 Jerome Classic

On a hot summer night in July, local, national and international athletes praised the venue’s natural setting and the atmosphere at the 2025 Jerome Classic.

B.C.’s Olivia Lundman competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but this is her first time at the Jerome Classic in Burnaby. “Growing up as a young track athlete, you hear about the Harry Jerome with all the Olympic athletes racing,” she said after her 3,000-metre race walk “This is a really nice facility with the track loop to warm up on. You can see the mountains and the forest and the crowd. It’s a great place to hold a meet.”

Veteran race walker Evan Dunfee of Richmond has set multiple records at the Jerome Classic and loves competing at Swangard Stadium. “This is my first time on the new track. it’s a beautiful track. This facility is special,” he said after clocking 11 minutes, 2.07 seconds in the 3,000-metre race walk, bettering his previous national record of 11:07 in that distance. “It is my favourite stadium and race course in the world to warm up on.  And the crowd is amazing. It is a special place here with all the trees in the background. It can’t be beat.”

Montreal sprinter Marie-Éloïse Leclair of Simon Fraser University also competed at the Paris Games last year, but this was her first time at the Jerome Classic. “It’s been great. I love having the crowd next to the home stretch.” She says the stadium “captures the perfect blend of the outdoors and city.”

“I’ve never been to this side of Canada. This venue is awesome. I love the stands here and the vibes are great,” said sprinter Marcellus Moore of the United States, winner of the 100-metre race in 10.07 seconds. With the track’s natural setting, Moore added “it’s super cool, I train in Texas, so we definitely don’t have all of this.”

“I love it here, it’s really pretty,” said American Angelina Ellis, another first-timer at the Jerome Classic, after winning the 3,000-metre steeplechase race. “It was really fun and the race conditions were great.”  Her goal is to make the U.S. Olympic Team for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The Jerome Classic was first held in 1964, titled as The International Olympic Preview. In 1984, this event was renamed the Harry Jerome Track Classic. In 2024, the event name was shortened to The Jerome Classic.

The 2025 Jerome Classic results are available here.

Photo Credits

Interviews: Sam Corea

Track action photos: Brian Cliff