It was a déjà vu moment in the men’s and women’s 1,500m finals at the 2024 Bell Canadian Track and Field Trials in Montreal, which also served as the national championships. Lucia Stafford and Kieran Lumb successfully defended their respective national 1,500m titles.
Stafford won her third straight Canadian title in the 1,500m, securing her place at her second Olympic Games in Paris with a time of 4:10.14. In the men’s final, Lumb held off a surging Charles-Philibert Thiboutot on the final lap to repeat as champion in 3:45.10.
“I’m thrilled,” said Lumb. “It’s always special to win, and to do so on Canadian soil.” This victory should likely cement Lumb’s spot on the Canadian Olympic team for Paris 2024, despite not yet having the Olympic standard of 3:33.50.
Heading into Sunday’s final, Lumb was on the bubble in the World Athletics Road to Paris men’s 1,500m quota of 45 spots. “The past month has been stressful, knowing I’m on the bubble,” Lumb admitted. “I am just excited to have the possibility to represent Canada on the world stage.”
Philibert-Thiboutot had a chance to secure his Paris spot in Sunday’s national final, having run 3:33.29 in Poland last year. However, the 33-year-old was boxed in heading into the final lap, leaving his kick too late.
“I knew Charles would have the home crowd pulling for him in the final 100m,” Lumb laughed. “I gave it everything I could.”
Stafford heading to second Olympic Games
There’s no doubt that Lucia Stafford has been the best female middle-distance runner in Canada over the last Olympic cycle. On Sunday afternoon in Montreal, she punched her ticket to her second Olympic Games.
Stafford says this week has been full of nostalgia and reflection, as the 2021 Canadian Olympic Trials for the Tokyo 2020 Games (pandemic-delayed) were also held at Montreal’s Claude Robillard Stadium, where she made her first Olympic team. She reflects that she’s a completely different person now compared to three years ago.
Now 25, Stafford reached the Olympic semi-final in the women’s 1,500m when she was 22. “Tokyo went so well for me, and it took so much to get there,” Stafford says. “I’m a totally different person—in the best way. I love the sport, and I can’t wait to compete again. Before, the weight of competing felt so heavy.”
With four weeks to go until the Athletics portion of the Paris 2024 Games, Stafford says she’s excited to be a fierce competitor instead of a scared one.
LUCIA STAFFORD IS GOING TO HER SECOND OLYMPICS ‼️
A tactical race with a final lap sprint earns Stafford the win in the W1,500m—4:10.14.#ACTrials24 pic.twitter.com/g2HmpzDnMu
— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) June 30, 2024
For full results from Day 5 of the Bell Canadian Track and Field Olympic Trials, check here.
The 2024 Bell Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials are taking place from June 26-30 at the Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard in Montreal. All our action and coverage is brought to you by Canadian Running and New Balance Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Canadian Olympic Trials and up-to-date exclusive news and content.
