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Plourde to Represent Team Canada at World Athletics Championships in Budapest
8/3/2023 5:06 PM | Track & Field
Former Utah All-American Simone Plourde is headed to Budapest to compete at the World Athletics Championships as a member of Team Canada.
OTTAWA – Former Utah track & field All-American Simone Plourde was recently named to the Canadian National Team that will compete at the World Championships in Budapest (Aug. 19-27) at the National Athletics Centre.
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"It feels surreal to think I'm headed to Worlds for my first-ever national team representing Canada," Plourde said after she found it. "It's always been a dream of mine to wear the Canadian uniform but I didn't expect for it to happen so fast. I can't wait to see what it feels like to race against the best in the world and get a first feel for an international meet of that caliber. This will be great experience heading into Paris 2024."
Plourde will take the track for the first time with her nation's colours for the first time in her career on Saturday, Aug. 19, at 5:15 a.m. (MT) / 1:15 p.m. (GMT +2) local. Plourde will toe the line at 9:05 a.m. / 5:05 p.m. local on Sunday, Aug. 20, if she advances to the semifinals of the 1500m race.
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Should the Montreal native move onto the finals, it'll take place on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 1:30 p.m. (MT) / 9:30 p.m. local.
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"Everyone associated with our program is incredibly proud to have an alum representing us at the World Athletics Championships for the first time (that I know of)," head coach Kyle Kepler said. "She has experienced outstanding growth in our program over the last two years, which will continue to impact her throughout her professional career. This is just the beginning for her."
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Plourde is coming off an incredible 2022-23 season where she was a USTFCCCA All-Region honoree while leading the Utes to their best finish ever at NCAA Cross Country Championships. She then picked it up a notch during the indoor season and earned first All-America honor in the 3000m race at indoor nationals while recording Utah's best finish ever at the NCAA Indoor Championships (fourth).
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The outdoor season was one to remember for Plourde with her becoming a 1500m Pac-12 Champion before earning a pair of All-America honors in the 1500m (second-team) and 5000m (first-team) at the NCAA Championships. She then went on to defend her 1500m crown at La Classique D'Athletisme de Montreal with a PR run 2:06.86.
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Plourde then made her professional debut for Union Athletics Club and broke her PR once again with a time of 2:06.47 to capture her first-career victory as a pro at the Harry Jerome Classic. She followed up with a solid performance at Canadian Championships by taking second in the 1500m to eventually secure her spot on the national team.
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2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Aug. 19-27, 2023
Budapest, Hungary
National Athletics Centre
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Date – Round (Time MT)
Aug. 19 – Round 1 (5:15 a.m.)
Aug. 20 – Semifinals (9:05 a.m.)
Aug. 22 – Finals (1:30 p.m.)
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For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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"It feels surreal to think I'm headed to Worlds for my first-ever national team representing Canada," Plourde said after she found it. "It's always been a dream of mine to wear the Canadian uniform but I didn't expect for it to happen so fast. I can't wait to see what it feels like to race against the best in the world and get a first feel for an international meet of that caliber. This will be great experience heading into Paris 2024."
Â
Plourde will take the track for the first time with her nation's colours for the first time in her career on Saturday, Aug. 19, at 5:15 a.m. (MT) / 1:15 p.m. (GMT +2) local. Plourde will toe the line at 9:05 a.m. / 5:05 p.m. local on Sunday, Aug. 20, if she advances to the semifinals of the 1500m race.
Â
Should the Montreal native move onto the finals, it'll take place on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 1:30 p.m. (MT) / 9:30 p.m. local.
Â
"Everyone associated with our program is incredibly proud to have an alum representing us at the World Athletics Championships for the first time (that I know of)," head coach Kyle Kepler said. "She has experienced outstanding growth in our program over the last two years, which will continue to impact her throughout her professional career. This is just the beginning for her."
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Plourde is coming off an incredible 2022-23 season where she was a USTFCCCA All-Region honoree while leading the Utes to their best finish ever at NCAA Cross Country Championships. She then picked it up a notch during the indoor season and earned first All-America honor in the 3000m race at indoor nationals while recording Utah's best finish ever at the NCAA Indoor Championships (fourth).
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The outdoor season was one to remember for Plourde with her becoming a 1500m Pac-12 Champion before earning a pair of All-America honors in the 1500m (second-team) and 5000m (first-team) at the NCAA Championships. She then went on to defend her 1500m crown at La Classique D'Athletisme de Montreal with a PR run 2:06.86.
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Plourde then made her professional debut for Union Athletics Club and broke her PR once again with a time of 2:06.47 to capture her first-career victory as a pro at the Harry Jerome Classic. She followed up with a solid performance at Canadian Championships by taking second in the 1500m to eventually secure her spot on the national team.
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2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Aug. 19-27, 2023
Budapest, Hungary
National Athletics Centre
Â
Date – Round (Time MT)
Aug. 19 – Round 1 (5:15 a.m.)
Aug. 20 – Semifinals (9:05 a.m.)
Aug. 22 – Finals (1:30 p.m.)
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For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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