WINDSOR, Ont. (July 6, 2008) – Gary Reed of Kamloops, B.C., and Achraf Tadili of Montreal finished 1-2 in the men’s 800-metre and both earned their second career Olympic nominations in the event on Sunday to conclude the Canadian track and field championships.
Reed, the Canadian record holder and world championship silver medallist, took the gold in 1:45.61 for his fifth Canadian title. Tadili was second in 1:46.25. Both had met the qualifying standards and needed a top-four finish Sunday to book their tickets to Beijing.
"I’m thrilled," said Reed. "I’m going back to the Games with a totally different mindset. I’m more experienced and have a better understanding of what I need to do when I get there."
Tadili wasn’t taking any big risks in the race.
"My next goal is to perform well at the Olympics," said Tadili, who would like to land a top-eighth finish in Beijing. "My goal today was to assure my nomination. I’m relieved because anything could have happened before I reached the finish line."
There were also two Olympic qualifiers In the men’s 200 sprint. Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., won the gold medal with a personal best 20.34 seconds to beat the B standard he needed and earn his Olympic nomination. Brian Barnett of Edmonton was second in 20.55 and also punched in his ticket to Beijing with a top-four finish.
Also earning Olympic nominations Sunday were:
- Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., in the men’s shot put. He needed a top-four finish and won the event with a 19.88 metre toss, a track record.
- Jim Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., in the men’s hammer throw. He threw 78.52 metres for the victory. Steacy will be the first Canadian Olympian in the hammer throw since John Murdoch placed eighth at the 1924 Games.
-Nicole Forrester of Mississauga, Ont., in the women’s high jump. She needed the 1.95 A standard and dramatically cleared the height on her third and final attempt to win the gold medal and earn her ticket to Beijing.
Other winners in women’s competition Sunday included Adrienne Power of Halifax in the 200, Rachel Lavallee of Etobicoke, Ont., in the 20 kilometre racewalk, Lieja Tunks of London, Ont., in the discus, Tabia Charles of Pickering, Ont., in the triple jump, Yvonne Mensah of Surrey, B.C., in the 400 hurdles, Elizabeth Gleadle of Vancouver in the javelin, Claire Percival of Sarnia, Ont., in the 3,000 steeplechase and Rebecca Johnstone of Bowen Island, B.C., in the 800.
Charles, already qualified for the Games in the long jump, broke the Canadian record in the triple jump reaching 13.92 metres. However it didn’t meet the standard to compete in the event in Beijing. Power will be considered for nomination in the "rising star" category.
Other winners in men’s competition included Adam Kunkel of Paisley, Ont., in the 400 hurdles, Mark Young of Niagara Falls, Ont., in the discus Tim Berrett of Edmonton in the 20 kilometre racewalk, David Foley of Sherbrooke, Que., in the pole vault, and Robin Watson of Guelph, Ont., in the 3,000 steeplechase.
Berrett had already qualified for the Olympics in the 50 kilometre racewalk. He is headed to his fifth Olympic Games.
Canadian head coach Les Gramantik expects about 30 track and field athletes to make the team for Beijing
Nicole Forrester jumps to Beijing at Canadian Track & Field Championships, soaring over the 1.95m required in her third attempt (photo: Steve Bower)
Canadian record, Olympic spot for Sultana Frizell at Canadian track and field championships
WINDSOR, Ont. (July 5, 2008) – Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Oshawa, Ont., and Angela Whyte of Edmonton finished 1-2 in the women’s 100-metre hurdles and Sultana Frizell of Perth, Ont., broke the Canadian record in the women’s hammer throw as all earned nominations to the Olympic team on Saturday at the Canadian track and field championships.
Eight other athletes, including Olympic medal hopeful Tyler Christopher of Edmonton also punched in their ticket to Beijing on a busy afternoon at the University of Windsor stadium.
Christopher won the men’s 400 in a meet record 45.03 seconds. "I wanted a sub 45 time but I was still a little tired from yesterday's race," said the reigning world indoor champion. "I am going to Beijing to win a medal. That's what I intend to do."
In the women’s 100 hurdles, Lopes-Schliep clocked 12.78 seconds for the victory with Whyte coming through in 12.96. Lopes-Schliep had already met the Olympic qualifying standard and needed a top-four finish.
"I'm very excited," said Lopes-Schliep. "I’m looking forward to Beijing. I've been on pins and needles. I'll take care of what I need to take care of and the rest will fall into place."
Whyte however needed to run the 13.11 B standard to get the spot. It’s been a struggle for her this season as she rebounds from arthroscopic knee surgery this past winter. Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., the 2003 world champion, is not competing this weekend due to injury. She needs to beat the 13.11 standard by July 22 to make the team.
"I am quite a bit behind schedule," said Whyte, sixth at the 2004 Athens Games. "But now I have a month for a cram session. Getting the spot is definitely a weight off my shoulders but I still have a lot of work to do."
In the women’s hammer throw, Frizell broke her Canadian record with a 70.94 metres toss. Her previous national mark was 70.55 set at a meet in Lethbridge, Alta earlier this year. She needed a top-four finish to qualify for the Games.
Others assuring themselves nominations for Beijing on Saturday were:
- Scott Russell of Windsor in the men’s javelin. He won the event with his best throw measured at 74.74 metres.
- Taylor Milne of Guelph, Ont., and Kevin Sullivan of Brantford, Ont. They were first and third in the men’s 1,500. Milne clocked a meet record 3:38.03.
- Tabia Charles of Pickering in the long jump. She placed third on Saturday.
- Kelsie Hendry of Saskatoon in the women’s pole vault. She cleared 4.30 metres to win the gold. The height matched the required B standard she needed to qualify.
- James Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., in the men’s hammer throw.
- Anson Henry of in the men’s 100. He clocked third in 10.27 to beat the required B standard he needed.
Other winners in men’s competition Saturday were Pierre Browne of Mississauga, Ont., in the 100 in 10.19 seconds, Michael Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., in the high jump, Karl Jennings of Toronto in the 110-metre hurdles and Frederic Miyoupo of Montreal in the long jump,
Other women victors were Carline Muir of Edmonton in the 400, Hilary Stellingwerff of Guelph, Ont., in the 1,500 and Lieja Tunks of London, Ont., in the shotput.
Mason and Muir will be considered for a spot on the Olympic team under the rising stars status.
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