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 have profound impacts on each of the four teams’ performances, but returning athletes will dictate the outcome of the season.

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:

Seth Edwards

Journey To The Top

The shot put athlete excelled in his second season with the Spitfires, making huge strides from his 2022 campaign. In his – and the league’s – first season, Edwards placed fourth in the discipline with a best of 15.99m. Despite his throws being second to only Eric Braithwaite’s, Edwards did not complete a fourth mark in the season, which caused him to miss out on valuable points. After a lackluster 2022, the Barbados-born athlete finished the 2023 season as the best male shot putter in the CTFL and tied for Spitfires MVP, placing first in all three marks and winning 76 points. 

Edward’s points helped his team end the season as CTFL champions as the Spitfires distanced themselves from the competition largely through field events, in which they were 178 points ahead of the second-best Huskies.

Next Season

Entering the 2024 season as both a reigning champion of his discipline and the league, expectations are high for Edwards. 

As the CTFL expands and new talent joins, competition gets fierce. With Anthony Labbé eligible to be drafted, Edwards is no longer an obvious favourite. Labbé, who was amongst our most exciting draft prospects, recorded a personal best of 16.39m during the 2023 season. His throw would’ve beat Edwards’ for the longest of the season if he had been a CTFL athlete.

While the competition is improving, Edwards is too. On Feb. 24, he shattered his personal best with a 17.11m throw in Windsor, Ont. This leap of almost one metre from his 2023 best is extremely promising and solidifies Edwards as a top competitor in this discipline. 

With the new season rapidly approaching, Edwards will look to retain his spot at the top, win points in a valuable event and break the CTFL record – set by Braithwaite in 2022 – which currently stands at 16.79m.