The Nanaimo Track and Field Club is hosting one of its largest meets of the year this weekend, with around 500 athletes set to compete in a full slate of events (Image Credit: Nanaimo Track and Field Club)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

elwood wylie

Hundreds of athletes expected for major Nanaimo track and field meet

May 22, 2026 | 1:52 PM

NANAIMO — One of the year’s largest track meets takes place this weekend.

The Nanaimo Track and Field Club will host the annual Elwood Wylie Memorial Meet on Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, at the Rotary Bowl, with close to 500 athletes from across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland expected over the two days.

Club head coach Wanda Urbanowicz said a wide range of age groups will be competing, from their young ‘track rascals’ program athletes, all the way to competitors in the 80s.

“We have a lot of tired high school athletes who just came off the Island high school track and field championships this week, but there are quite a few who are trying to qualify for BC Summer Games, so they’re coming out again to get some good times.”

Among the competitors will be Alycia Butterworth, a Parksville-born athlete who represented Canada at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.

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She’ll be in the field for the 3,000 metre steeplechase scheduled for after 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Urbanowicz told NanaimoNewsNOW registration in club programs is extremely strong, boosted by the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Nanaimo’s Ethan Katzberg won gold in the men’s hammer throw, and Nanaimo race-walker Olivia Lundman also represented her country.

“I think there is a surge for sure since the last Olympics, there usually is. But having Ethan and Olivia, the locals going to the highest level, I think parents see that, and while some of the younger kids might not know who Ethan Katzberg is, they come to the track, and they see the Ethan Katzberg cage that we have named after him.”

Katzberg was in Nanaimo in early April to prepare for an upcoming meet, and took time to chat with some local athletes at the club.

Entry to the meet is free for spectators.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Hundreds of athletes expected for major Nanaimo track and field meet

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