Incredible photos of Canada’s runners laying it all on the line to make the Olympics

Jessica O'Connell (6) and Lanni Marchant (5) start the women's 5000m at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton on July 7.

Jessica O'Connell competes in the women's 5000m final at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton on July 7.

Jessica O'Connell competes in the women's 5000m final at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton on July 7.

The pack in the 5000m women's final at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton on July 7.

Jason Dunkerley and guide Josh Karanja compete in the men's para 5000m final at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton on July 7.

Luc Bruchet and Mohammed Ahmed at the start of the men's 5000m final at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton.

Cameron Levins sits in the pack during the men's 5000m final at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton on July 7. Photo: Dave Holland.

Mohammed Ahmed and Lucas Bruchet finish first and second in the men's 5000m final at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton on July 7.

Cameron Levins crosses the line in 7th in the men's 5000m final at the Athletics Canada 2016 Track and Field Trials at Foote Field in Edmonton on July 7.

Day one recap by Jay Smith

The first day of the Athletics Canada Olympic trials in Edmonton got underway on Thursday with Olympic spots on the line for many runners.

5,000m

Andrea Seccafien and Mohammed Ahmed took the women’s and men’s national titles in the 5,000m, respectively, to secure their spots for Rio. Seccafien, ran the first three-quarters of the race conservatively as the top nine women remained in a pack past the 3,000m-mark. She fought through the packed field to finish in 16:00.42, narrowly ahead of fellow University of Toronto Track Club teammate Sasha Gollish, who clocked in at 16:00.65. The University of Calgary’s Jessica O’Connell, who set the pace for portions of the race, was half-a-second back in 16:00.90. Because Gollish hasn’t run the Olympic qualifying standard, however, the second and third spots to be eligible for Rio go to O’Connell and fourth-place finisher Rachel Cliff.

In-depth: Who the heck made Canada’s 5,000m Olympic team at Thursday’s gong show?

Canadian record holder Mohammed Ahmed — a favourite since he blasted out a 13:01.74 5,000m last May at the Prefontaine Classic — lurked for much of the men’s 5,000m. He went to the front of the pack on the penultimate lap then dropped a 56-second final 400m to which no one could respond. Ahmed clocked 14:00.93, ahead of Lucas Bruchet (14:02.37), and Mike Tate (14:02.86). Cam Levins, record holder in the 10,000m and competitor in the 5,000 and 10,000 at the London Olympics, finished in seventh. Having nursed an ankle injury this year, he’s doubtful of his prospects for Rio, although he could still be selected for the 10,000m based on qualifying times set last year.

RELATED: Sasha Gollish looks to end season on a high note.

Emma Kusch Dahle won the junior national 5,000m in a time of 17:46.68.

Hurdles

In other events, Sage Watson once again hit the Olympic qualifying standard in the preliminaries of the women’s 400m hurdles with a 55.83. She led a strong field that included Olympic-favourites Chanice Chase and Noelle Montcalm. In the men’s 400m hurdles, Trent Ratzlaff, Gabriel Slythe Léveillé, Khalil Parris dominated the preliminaries. Finals for the women’s and men’s 400m hurdles run Friday afternoon.

RELATED: Canada’s fastest-ever 10,000m man in serious jeopardy of missing Olympic team.

Friday update: Noelle Montcalm won the women’s 400m hurdles and ran the Olympic standard in the race for the first time, meaning she will be going to Rio.

??What a final in the 400m Hurdles with @noellemontcalm taking the win ?? pic.twitter.com/3X9BkYa9zn

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) July 8, 2016

Full results.