Julia Agostinelli and David Adeleye named Under Armour U Sports Athletes of the Week

Canadian Running and Under Armour have teamed up for the 2024 Canadian U Sports indoor track and field season to highlight some of the top homegrown talents across the country. Each week leading up to the 2024 U Sports Indoor Track and Field Championships in March, Canadian Running will select one male and female track and field athlete to be the Under Armour Athlete of the Week.

The athlete of the week will be a male and female track and field athlete who achieved a standout performance, broke a school record or crushed a personal best. Each week of the U-Sports 2024 season these athletes will be featured on Canadian Running and awarded an Under Armour prize pack. Middle-distance runner Julia Agostinelli of Guelph University and hurdler David Adeleye of the University of Toronto have been chosen as the inaugural Under Armour U Sports Athletes of the Week.

Female Athlete of the Week: Julia Agostinelli–women’s 1,000m

Agostinelli is a fourth-year student, competing for the Guelph Gryphons in the OUA conference. Over the weekend at the Can-AM Classic in Windsor, Ont., Agostinelli ran a personal best in the women’s 1,000m, clocking 2:47.46. This time automatically qualified her for the 2024 U Sports Championships in Winnipeg in March. It was also her first race of the 2024 season.

“I am happy I executed my race exactly how I had planned it, and hitting the U Sports [1,000m] standard was a bonus,” says Agostinelli. She mentions that her coach, Terry Radchenko, has had her focus more on her speed over the past few weeks. “My goal is to continue to be consistent and intentional with my training,” she says. “I want to put myself in the mix for some provincial and national medal opportunities later this season.”

Agostinelli recognizes that the success of her U Sports indoor season is crucial for performing well in the summer. “I plan to make my outdoor debut at the Bell Canadian Track and Field Olympic Trials in June,” says Agostinelli. “We will see how far my legs will take me.”

Male Athlete of the Week: David Adeleye–men’s 60m hurdles

Adeleye, a third-year student and hurdler for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, participated in six races over two days at the Can-AM Classic. He reached the final in both the men’s 60m and the 60m hurdles (his prized event), placing fifth in the 60m final and hitting the U Sports standard twice in the 60m hurdles heats and finals. Adeleye achieved a season’s best of 7.98 seconds, only three one-hundredths of a second shy of his personal best (7.95s).

Despite having a messy race in the final, Adeleye was pleased to walk away with another sub-8 performance. “I know I am in shape for a fast time and a personal best,” he says. “I am just working on being patient and staying consistent.” 

Adeleye has high goals for the 2024 indoor season. The 21-year-old aspires to run 7.8 seconds for the 60m hurdles, win U Sports and give himself an opportunity to compete for Canada and chase the world indoor championship standard of 7.62 seconds.

If you would like to nominate a Canadian U Sports athlete for Under Armour Athlete of the Week, send @canadianrunning a message on Instagram or email marley@runningmagazine.ca.