Speed River Track and Field Club’s Taylor Milne ran his final tune up race before next month’s Beijing Olympic Games tonight in Brasschaat, Belgium. Milne who elected to move up in distance testing him over the 3000 meters (he will be running the 1500 in Beijing) record a personal best and narrowly missed Reid Coolsaet’s club record with a 7:54 clocking. Milne will now return home for a few days before heading to Singapore and the Canadian training camp at the start of August.
Milne highlighted a meet that included a number of personal bests for Speed River athletes. Teammate Robin Watson, the Canadian Steeplechase Champion, continued his string of strong showings at the shorter distances, with another 1500 meter personal best crossing the line in 3:47. Right on his heels was teammate Cleve Thorson who made it two for two on the New Balance Euro Tour, recording his second personal best of the trip running a 3:48. In the men’s 800 meter race, Tim Konoval continued the string of personal best as he lowered his personal best by nearly two seconds with a time of 1:50.8.
Wrapping a busy day for the group was Hilary Stellingwerff, who competed in her final race of the season narrowly missing a life time best with 2:03 clock. Stellingwerff, the Canadian Champion over 1500 meters, was granted an extension to attempt to meet the Olympic standard but the deadline passed yesterday with Stellingwerff having been unable to meet the standard. She will now take a well deserved break.
Saturday in Oordegem, Speed River will conclude their tour with Eric Gillis running the 3000 meters in his final race before the Beijing Games