On Wednesday, June 22, athletes began assembling at Langley害羞草研究所檚 McLeod Athletic Park for the start of the .

More than 1,600 able-bodied and Paralympic athletes are registered for the national championships, which are being held in B.C. for the first time since 2004.

Langley heptathlon star , interviewed at the track, told the Langley Advance Times that being forced to sit this one out, due to a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in February, was extremely frustrating.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 driving me a little bit crazy,害羞草研究所� she confessed.

Ellenwood, who confirmed she will be working as a commentator during the event, is focused on next year, when she will be fully recovered and able to compete when Langley hosts the Canadian championships again.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 going to keep that in the back of my mind, and work towards that for next year,害羞草研究所� Ellenwood confided.

Her recovery has been going very well, she reported, after being in a cast for two weeks, a boot for eight weeks, and then learning how to walk again.

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Victoria Paralympic athlete , who has set several world records for 1500 metres, was looking forward to the event and predicting 害羞草研究所渁 lot of fast times.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚ts cool to have one that害羞草研究所檚 actually in B.C.,害羞草研究所� Riech remarked.

, from Kelowna, described himself as a 害羞草研究所淏.C. boy, born and raised,害羞草研究所� explaining the Langley stadium, was familiar territory, the place where he wrapped up his high school career.

害羞草研究所淭here is some special, sentimental value, associated with competing here,害羞草研究所� Gay said.

Simon Nathan, Athletics Canada害羞草研究所檚 high performance director, was expecting some close outcomes, and new names on the podium, partly because some familiar names had to opt out due to injuries, but also because 害羞草研究所渨e have some new stars breaking through.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 exciting,害羞草研究所� Nathan commented.

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Langley Township was originally awarded the 2021 and 2022 editions of the event, back in July 2017.

But with the pandemic forcing postponement of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, along with Athletics Canada害羞草研究所檚 Olympic and Paralympic Trials, the Langley dates had to be moved, with the Township hosting the 2022 and 2023 events.

More photos from Wednesday can be online at the .