Other athletes to watch at the Pan Am Games

There are plenty of great Canadian runners to keep track of next week while athletics is on during the Pan Am Games, but some of the country’s top medal hopefuls will be competing alongside the runners on the field, in the same venue.

Here are a few gold medal-hopeful field event athletes to watch wile you’re cheering on the Canadian runners:

Damian Warner

One of Canada’s brightest hopes on the track and in the field, Warner, a decathlete, placed fifth at the 2012 Olympics, third at the 2013 world championships and won the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He’s only competed in one decathlon this season, posting a no-mark in the shot put, leaving him ranked 34th in the world, though even a modest performance would have likely vaulted him towards second in the world.

The men’s decathlon with take place on July 22 and 23, each day showcasing five of the ten events.

Christabel Nettey

Netty, the Canadian long jump champion and national record-holder, is currently ranked second in the world in her event, on four occasions having jumped within 10 centimetres of seven meters. The only athlete who’s jumped farther this season, Tianna Bartoletta of the United States, isn’t competing in Toronto, leaving Nettey as one of Canada’s top shots for a gold medal. She was last year’s bronze medallist at the Commonwealth Games in her event.

Nettey will contest the women’s long jump qualification round at 11:50 a.m., July 23. The final is scheduled for 7 p.m. the following day.

Shawnacy Barber

The young pole vaulter is only 21 years old, but he’s the Canadian record holder in his event, having jumped 5.91 metres earlier in the year. The height — a bit taller than your average giraffe — ranks him fourth in the world, and one centimetre behind his main competition here in Toronto, Brazil’s Thiago Braz da Silva.

The men’s pole vault will begin at 10:10 am on July 21.

Sultana Frizell

This two-time Olympian is ranked sixth in the world in the hammer throw, but she’s the top-ranked thrower who will be at the Pan Am Games with a 73.66-metre throw of the four-kilogram hammer, farther than the length of a Bowing 747. Frizell, 30, is a two-time winner of the Commonwealth Games in her disciple, though

Frizell will throw the hammer at 5 p.m. on July 21.