There is much to be done ahead of the 2024 CTFL season, as teams must both cut weak links and draft new talent. Roster changes are bound to profoundly impact each of the four teams’ performances, but returning athletes will dictate the season’s outcome.

New World Athletics has selected ten athletes that look promising ahead of this season. Some are big names that performed well in the 2023 season, and some flew under the radar but are capable of making waves in their disciplines.

Here is New World Athletics Ones to Watch:

Alec Purnell, 1500m

Outpacing the competition

Purnell, like many featured in this series, was the champion of his discipline. Unlike the majority of past Ones to Watch who topped the rankings, Purnell’s regular season victory was decided by a hundredth of a second. As many CTFL fans know, Purnell and other Ones to Watch athlete Simon Bérubé were involved in an exhilarating photo finish at the Royal City Inferno meet in Guelph, Ont. Purnell was able to barely separate himself from his competitor and take the race, but if he hadn’t, he would’ve finished the regular season ten points behind Bérubé who had the faster free mark. 

Coming into the championship, the two were tied with 45 points, but Bérubé was unable to compete. Purnell finished in first place, running a 3:46.65, a comfortable two seconds ahead of the next-best athlete.

Purnell finished the CTFL season at the top of the discipline, winning the Huskies MVP with 71 points and a CTFL record in his event.

Next season

After narrowly beating out the competition, Purnell will look to establish dominance in the discipline this season, but it will not be easy. Not only does an active Bérubé pose a serious threat to Purnell’s title, but Huskies teammate Kenya Small – who ran a 3:43.95 last season – could be a legitimate challenger.

Above all, a high-calibre newcomer looks to set a new standard in the discipline.

24-year-old Matthew Beaudet, an eligible pick in the upcoming draft, has the potential to top the rankings in his first year. With a personal best of 3:39.67 and an average time of 3:43.29 in the 2023 season, Beaudet will immediately mingle with those at the top of the discipline.

With both old and new competition looking daunting, Purnell will have to be in his best form this season to win the discipline again. Despite the challengers, fans can still expect Purnell to produce solid results, finish high in the discipline and win valuable points for the Huskies.