Thank you to all our
athletes, you helped make the 20th Anniversary Track
Classic an event to remember, we hope to see you all
back next year. Good luck to all of you on your way to
Beijing
Thank you to our sponsors
without your support this meet wouldn't happen
To all our volunteers - Thank You
To our Officials - For everything - Thank you
To our Organising Committee - for your commitment, your
dedication and your ability to get the job done no - no
matter the job.
Thank you, yet again for making this the great meet
that it is.
See you all next year!
Images of the meet will be posted over the coming days
Results may be found
here
Further details on the meet may be found at:
http://track.flocasts.org/articles/view/438-victoria-international-track-classic-the-stare-down
Victoria International Track Classic
Thursday,
June 19th, 2008
INTERNATIONAL
TRACK
CLASSIC
Future
Olympians put on a show at UVic
CLEVE
DHEENSAWTimes Colonist
The
sleek and graceful Gary Reed, 2007 world championships
silver medallist, won the men’s 800 metres yesterday to
deliver a popular hometown victory in the 20th Victoria
International Track
Classic.
Then, perhaps fittingly, Vangelis’ theme from Chariots
of Fire was played on the PA system for the Victorian
who could deliver a medal for Canada at the 2008
Beijing Summer Olympics.
“It was good to get a solid run in because every race
counts at this point and timing is crucial,” said Reed,
who clocked a season personal-best 1:45.66 in a field
that included fellow Olympians Kevin Sullivan of
Brantford, Ont., and Zach Whitmarsh of Victoria.
Diane Cummins of Victoria, the Canadian record holder
and 2004 Athens Olympian, won the women’s 800 metres in
2:02.97 before an appreciative and decent-sized gallery
at Centennial Stadium.
“I’ve really struggled this year and was not expecting
to win this race,” said Cummins, the 2002 Manchester
Commonwealth Games silver medallist.
“I didn’t get the Olympic standard [1:59.97] but it’s
going to come.”
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, a powerfully-built 2004 Athens
Olympian from Whitby, Ont., won the women’s 100-metre
hurdles in 12.90 seconds, just off the Olympic
qualifying standard of 12.83.
“I’m very pleased with that . . . it helps in the
preparations for Beijing . . . the times are coming
down slowly,” said Lopes-Schliep.
“Victoria is a beautiful place with great fans and a
beautiful track.
I’m glad the wind held off and there was no rain.”
A trio of American athletes preparing for the U.S.
Olympic track
and
field trials next month in Eugene, Ore., won events.
Jerome Miller, fresh out of NCAA Baylor, took the men’s
110-metre hurdles in 13.84 in his first international
event. Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 Athens Olympian out of
Villanova, won the women’s 1,500 metres in a season
personal-best 4:14.37.
“It’s down to the wire [for Beijing qualification],”
said the American Olympian, who is coming off injury.
“It’s been a rough way back but that’s what athletes go
through.”
Grant Robison of Michigan overcame a valiant challenge
by the standout UVic Vikes runner Geoff Martinson
(3:42.83) to take the men’s 1,500 metres in 3:41.86.
“I’m trying to get race sharp and go into the [U.S.]
trials at Eugene with some momentum,” said Robison.
Kaltouma Nadjina, attempting to make Beijing and
represent Chad in her fourth consecutive Summer
Olympics, was a classy winner in the women’s 400 metres
in 52.68.
Nathan Taylor of Courtenay, 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth
Games 4x100 bronze medallist, blasted to victory in the
men’s 100 metres in 10.46.
Juan Luis Barrios, who will represent Mexico in the
5,000 metres at the Beijing Olympics, won that event.
The field events were highlighted by a Canadian record
holder who is likely Beijingbound, pending the national
Olympic trials next month in Windsor. The burly and
powerful Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops put the shot for a
meet record 20.47 metres, off his Canadian record of
20.92.
