Friday, July 8, 2022
BURNABY, B.C. – Former Simon Fraser track and field and cross country standout Cameron Proceviat has earned a spot on Canada’s team for the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from July 15-24. He is one of five Canadians to receive a late invitation to the meet by World Athletics.
Proceviat will run in the men’s 1,500 meters. He joins fellow SFU alumni Lindsey Butterworth and Addy Townsend – who were announced last week – on the Canadian roster. All three are coached by Brit Townsend, leader of SFU's cross country and track and field programs.
“Making an outdoor national team for the World Championships was something I always dreamed about during my time at SFU,” says Proceviat. “As I was developing as an athlete, I had the privilege of training around some of Canada’s other top athletes at the time like Jessica Smith and Helen Crofts, and got to follow Lindsey Butterworth’s lead of going from collegiate competition to the pro and world ranks. I had a few years of difficulty in the sport right after graduating from SFU but Brit always believed in my ability and never let me give up hope.”
It was been a breakout year for Proceviat. He set the Canadian indoor mile record in February in Boston, posting a time of 3:52.54. In March, he was 16th overall in the 1,500 with a time of 3:40.47 at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
Proceviat is the second-ranked runner on Canada’s all-time indoor 1,500 list (3:36.85) and ninth on the outdoor 1,500 list (3:36.09). Both times were recorded in 2022.
“This whole year has been sort of a dream come true,” says Proceviat. “I broke a Canadian record, raced people I never thought I would race when I was a collegiate athlete, and made my first ever Team Canada for World Indoors. When I realized I was on the edge of making World Outdoors and then ultimately didn’t make it originally, although upset, I could reflect back on this year as a huge success and step forward. And just as I had come to accept my fate and start organizing my thoughts and strategies for next year, I got a phone call telling me that I had been a late addition.”
Proceviat was fourth in the 1,500 at the recent Canadian Track and Field Championships in Langley, B.C. (3:57.47).
“He is very deserving and very excited to compete on the world stage against the very best,” says SFU head coach Brit Townsend. “When I think back to how far he has come from the tall lanky high school kid that walked on to our team almost 10 years ago, I am truly amazed. His hard work and discipline for the last 10 years has rewarded him with two national teams in the same year. I am extremely proud to have three athletes qualified for this incredible event. Never before have I had more than one at a major games like this. Self-belief pays off. I have always believed everything was possible for these athletes and the many I work with on the team.”
Proceviat competed for SFU between 2012 and 2016 after redshirting the 2011-12 campaign. He won Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor track and field titles in the 800 meters (2015-16) and distance medley relay twice (2014-15), and the 4x400 relay once (2015).
He was part of SFU’s GNAC-winning team in the outdoor 4x400 twice (2015-16). Proceviat also posted second-place showings in the outdoor 800 (three times) and 1,500 (once) at the GNAC meet.
Currently a medical school student, Proceviat was the GNAC’s 2015-16 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the first SFU competitor to earn the achievement. He was a three-time GNAC All-Academic selection in both cross country and track and field.