Athletics Canada head coach Glenroy Gilbert previews the Canadian relay teams at Commonwealth Games

Thanks for doing this Glenroy. You know for so long we've showed up at these international meets and we've seen this Canadian quartet. We've been used to that but there is a change. Tell us about that. Yeah you know for us the Commonwealth Games is an opportunity to introduce some newer athletes to the relay program. Giving the athletes an opportunity to compete on a large stage. An opportunity to go through the call room, come on the track and see how they perform under some pressure. I mean it's not, relay running is not easy in any form but the Commonwealth Games at least gives them something close to a world championship experience or even an Olympic Games experience. Dwayne has been outspoken about wanting a moment like this. What have you seen from him? I saw a video from practice earlier. He'll be running the bend and handing off to Andre. Yeah he's fit. I mean he ran 10, I think 10-12, 10-14 here. He ran 10-10 before coming here. He's shown that he can certainly run. He's fast enough. He's got the speed, the foot speed. He's going to have to take him past the stick on the corner which is and again he's taking the stick from an experienced backstretch runner in Jerome Blake. He's giving it to an experienced anchorman in Andre Degrasse. So we put him in a position and we're going to do everything to help him succeed in the position that he's in. I think the big question would be if all goes as planned in the heats, is that the lineup you're going with in the final or is that still to be determined? It's still to be determined because the way I look at it is this. You get an opportunity to go out there. You've got to demonstrate that we have video. We have analysis on each of the legs. So if that doesn't come back favorably or what I'm looking for then we're certainly willing to make a change. Not pushing this too far but I know sometimes you've stretched the box and lived right on the edge. Is that a consideration when you're thinking about somebody new without showing too many of your cards coach? Oh you know I can tell you straight no. I don't do that. Just because I want to put them in a position where it's going to be nerve-wracking enough out there. So I don't want to add to that by lengthening the exchange zones and causing them some degree of stress. Make them feel comfortable. Make it all about the run and not so much yes you got to take and pass the stick but that should be the easy part. A quick one about the women's quartet. We're going to see Frederique lead off, Audrey at second and Sade in the anchor spot. Take us through those decisions. Yeah I mean we're doing a couple of things here. We're trying to see Sade in a different position. Audrey is strong to take and pass the stick and Marie on the curve again taking and passing. So we've put in the middle the most experienced. We put a relatively inexperienced lead off but again in a lead-off position you've got to get out of the blocks run the turn and make a pass. Frederique yesterday in the 200 demonstrated that she can run the turn really well and I think she's going to do a great job. And Sade on the end we're also thinking future. We're looking towards the ultimate challenge at the end of the summer and what our configuration looks like there. So with both teams that's the idea in mind. Where can we put athletes at that major comp? With of course coach the eye on the big prize two years from now in LA. Thanks for doing this. You're very welcome anytime.