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Primeau primed for London

Trinity Western coach chosen to lead Canada's para-athletics team for 2012 Games

Laurier Primeau has been named head coach of Canada’s para-athletics team for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Primeau is in his first season as head coach of the Trinity Western Spartans track and field team.

“I am honoured to be appointed to this position and am grateful to Trinity Western for facilitating this opportunity,” Primeau said. “More importantly, TWU has given me the environment in which to develop the skill set required for a position at the pinnacle of sport.  I am blessed.”

Primeau has a wealth of technical and coaching experience including leading a national program into and in a major games situation when he was the head coach of Scottish Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.  Primeau’s main task and focus will be on final team preparations and head coaching duties at the 2012 Games in London, England.

As a whole, Athletics Canada’s para-athletics program will be led by a group of technical leaders, with Primeau at the helm of the London 2012 program.

“Our athletes and coaches will receive a clear high performance message,” said Martin Goulet, Chief High Performance Officer with Athletics Canada. “We are expecting enhanced motivation and confidence under Laurier’s leadership. He will provide strong direction and the required support to our targeted athletes.”

Primeau’s focus will be concentrated on two themes in particular.  The first is to establish clear lines of communication between coaching staff, integrated support team, targeted athletes and personal coaches.  The second is to ensure targeted athletes have everything required in their training environments in the lead up to the Paralympic Games.

Along with his duties as the Spartans coach, Primeau is also currently a high performance para-athletics coach with Athletics Canada.

Notably Primeau has been working with Langley’s Braedon Dolfo, who recently broke the Canadian record in the T13 classification 100-metres en route to a bronze medal at the 2011 Para Panamerican Games.

Dolfo, a visually impaired athlete, trains with the Langley Mustangs Track and Field Club.

“This is another first for the Trinity Western Spartans,” said Murray Hall, Trinity Western’s athletic director.

“Having Laurier appointed as head coach for an Olympics games is a wonderful opportunity for him to continue to develop as a Complete Champion. Trinity Western has had other coaches appointed as coaches for FISU games but the Olympics are yet another notch up. Laurier is a very capable coach and leader and he will do Canada proud in this 2012 Olympic Games position.”

With Trinity Western, Primeau has already had two of his athletes, Blair Johnston and Fiona Benson, named B.C. Junior cross-country athletes of the year.

From 2002 to 2009 Primuea was involved with Canada’s national program as a coach in the areas of jumps, combined events and relays.  He served in a coaching capacity at two world junior championships and three Pan American junior championships and was a member of the national team from 1990 to 1998 competing in the 400-metre hurdles and 4x400-metres relay.