2012 Olympic's Track and Field: Canadian Recap

Sunday Saw London 2012 Draw to a Close

This past Sunday, August the 12^th, marked the close of the XXX Olympiad, more commonly known as London 2012. As is tradition, the final event contested at the Olympics was the Men’s Marathon paying tribute to Pheidippides’ quest from the ancient Greek city of Marathon to Athens. This event featured 3 Canadians who finished with remarkable placing’s. In today’s post, Weekend Warriors recaps the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Track and Field team and how we fared in London 2012.

100m Dash

In the women’s 100m dash Kerri-Ann Mitchell ran for Canada and posted a time of 11.49 seconds to finish 6^th place in the first race of the quarter final rounds. Mitchell’s time was not good enough to advance her to the semi finals. The men’s 100m heats saw Canadian Justyn Warner post a personal best clocking of 10.09 seconds, good enough for 3^rd place in his heat and a spot in the semi finals where he would line up alongside eventual Silver medalist Yohan Blake. Warner equaled his personal best in the semi final, but finished 5^th in his heat and did not advance to the finals.

200m Dash

In the women’s 200, Crystal Emmanuel ran for Canada and finished her quarterfinal heat with a time of 23.10, good enough to grab her the last time qualifying spot and advance her to the semi finals. Her 23.10 was a season best time.  Unfortunately Emmanuel was not able to advance to the finals and posted a time of 23.28 seconds which earned her 7^th place in her semi final. In the men’s 200m, Canada was represented by a trio of sprinters in Aaron Brown, Jarred Connaughton, and Tremaine Harris. Brown and Connaughton advanced through the heats to the semi finals running 20.55 and 20.72 respectively. Harris ran 20.70 for 5^th in his heat but did not advance. Both Connaughton and Brown were stymied in their semi final races. Connaughton ran 20.64 for 7^th in his semi final, and Brown ran a personal best of 20.42 for 4^th in his heat, only .05 seconds shy of a time qualifying spot.

400m Dash

Jenna Martin ran for Canada in the 400m dash and advanced from the heats to the semi finals with a time of 51.98 seconds, good enough for 3^rd in her heat and an automatic qualifying spot. Martin came short of qualifying for the final by running 52.83 seconds and finishing 7^th in her semi final race. In the men’s 400m dash Daundre Barnaby ran in the first heat and crossed the finish line in 46.04 seconds, a time not swift enough to qualify for the semi finals.

800m Run

Canada had two representatives on the women’s side in the 800m run.  Jessica Smith ran first in the 3^rd heat and finished 2^nd with a time of 2:07.75 and automatically qualified for the semi finals where she would run 2:01.90 for 7^th in her race, which was not enough to advance her to the finals. Melissa Bishop also represented Canada and finished in 6^th place in her heat with a time of 2:09.33, not enough to make it to the semi finals. Geoff Harris ran for Canada on the men’s side and claimed 2^nd place in his heat with a personal best time of 1:45.97 to advance to the semi finals. In the semis, Harris would run 1:46.14 and come just short of advancing to the finals.

1500m Run

Canada’s Hillary Stellingwerf and Nicole Sifuentes would both advance to the semi finals of their event with times of 4:05.79 and 4:07.65 respectively. Neither advanced to the final of the event, but both bettered their times from the heats with clockings of 4:05.57 for Stellingwerf and 4:06.33 for Sifuentes. Nathan Brannen ran for the men’s team and advanced from the heats to the semi final by finishing 5^th in his heat with a time of 3:39.95. A favourite to make the final, Brannen suffered heartbreak when his Achilles was stepped on in the semi and he went down, leaving him well back of the pack. Even though he fell, Brannen was still able to run 3:39.26 seconds for 12^th in his semi. Brannen was looking to chase a podium spot in what may have been his last Olympics.

Brannen's Calf/Achilles

5000m Run

Canada’s lone representative on either side in the 5000m made history. Cam Levins, days after an 11^th place finish in the 10 000, ran a personal best of 13:18.29 seconds, good enough to qualify him for the final. Levins became the first Canadian in 100 years to make the final in the 5000m. Unfortunately a cold that Levins acquired after the heats compromised his lungs and over the final two laps of the final he faded to 14^th place in 13:51.87.

10 000m Run

As was previously mentioned, Cam Levins finished 11^th place in the 10 000 while wearing the red and white (and black) of Canada. His time of 27:40.68 was only 10 seconds back of Great Britain’s Mo Farah. Canada was also represented by 21 year old Mohammed Ahmed who finished 18^th in 28:13.91. The Canadian women did not have a representative in the 10 000.

4x100m Relay

Canada’s only relay representative of the London Olympics experienced the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. The relay quartet of Gavin Smellie, Seyi Smith, Jarred Connaughton and Justyn Warner finished 2^nd in their semi final and posted the 3^rd fastest qualifying time of 38.05 seconds to qualify for the final. In the final of the event, all of Canada cheered when Justyn Warner ran from 5^th place to 3^rd place in the final 100m of the relay, earning Canada what seemed to be a bronze medal. However after video review, it was determined that Connaughton ran on the line and thus Canada was disqualified and the Bronze medal was awarded to Trinidad and Tobago. However, as you can see in the photo below, Trinidad’s anchor leg, Richard Thompson, also stepped on the line, which should have resulted in a disqualification.

Richard Thompson (TRI) Also Steps on the Lane Line

100m Hurdles

Both Phyllicia George and Jessica Zelinka advanced to the finals of the 100m hurdles where they finished 6^th and 7^th respectively. George equaled her personal best with a run of 12.65 seconds in the final. Canada was also represented by Nikita Holder who advanced to the semi finals but bowed out after a clocking of 12.93 seconds earned her 6^th place in her semi final. Canada did not have a male entrant in the 110m hurdles.

400m Hurdles

Sarah Wells ran for Canada in the 400m hurdles and after a clocking 56.47 seconds in the heats, she advanced to the semi finals. Wells was unable to advance to the finals and finished 8^th in her semi final with a time of 56.71 seconds.

3000m Steeplechase

Canadian Alex Genest ran in the 3^rd heat of the 3000 steeplechase and posted a time of 8:22.62 seconds, good enough for a season’s best and 7^th place in his heat, but not enough to advance him to the final.

Heptathlon/Decathlon

Canada had very strong performances in both the Heptathlon and Decathlon where we had 2 representatives on the women’s side and 1 on the men’s side. Canada’s Jessica Zelinka finished 7^th in the Heptathlon with a total of 6480 points. First time Olympian Brianne Thiesen posted an 11^th place finish for Canada with 6383 points. It should be noted that Thiesen’s fiancé, Ashton Eaton, won gold in the Decathlon for the United States and is the current Decathlon World Record holder. Hello amazing gene pool. In the Decathlon Canada was treated to one of the most surprising and heart warming performances of the Games. 22 year old Damian Warner of London, Ontario came out of relative obscurity to place 5^th in the Decathlon with 8442 points, just 81 points off of the medal stand. Warner will be a definite medal contender in Rio in 2016.

High Jump

Canada’s new Golden (well Bronze) Boy, Derek Drouin surprised most of the country by an amazing 3^rd place finish in the High Jump, and Canada’s only medal of the Athletics competition. Drouin finished in a 3 way tie for Bronze after successfully clearing 2.29m and exiting the competition at 2.33m. Michael Mason also jumped for Canada and cleared 2.29m as well, but finished in 8^th place due to misses at the previous heights.

Derek Drouin and His High Jump Bronze

Javelin Throw

In the women’s Javelin, Canadian Elizabeth Gleadle advanced to the final of the competition where she finished in 12^th place with a throw of 58.78m. On the men’s side, Canada’s entry Curtis Moss finished 13^th in his qualification flight with a toss of 78.22m, well short of qualifying for the final.

Discus Throw

Canada did not have an entrant in either women’s or men’s discus.

Shot Put

Julie Labonte of Canada heaved the shot 17.47m in the qualification flight of the Women’s Shot Put, but would not advance to the final due to her 10^th place finish in the preliminaries. On the men’s side, medal favourite Dylan Armstrong easily qualified for the final where he unfortunately fell short of reaching the podium and finished 5^th with a throw of 20.93m. Justin Rodhe also competed for Canada, but did not advance past the qualifying rounds after failing to post a legal throw.

Hammer Throw

Sultana Frizell and Heather Steacy represented Canada in the women’s Hammer Throw but neither advanced past the qualification rounds, posting throws of 67.45m and 63.40m for 14^th and 17^th places, respectively. On the men’s side, James Steacy competed for Canada but did not register a legal throw in qualification.

20km Race Walk
Canadian Rachel Seaman finished 52nd in the 20km women's event with a time of 1:37:36. Canada's entrant in the men's event, Inaki Gomez set a Canadian Record in the men's 20km race with a time of 1:20:58.

Marathon

Canada only had 3 entrants in the Marathon and all were on the men’s side. The Canadian trio ran a conservative, team race and were bunched up at the finish line, led by Dylan Wykes’ 20^th place finish in 2:15:26 seconds. Eric Gillis crossed the line next in 22^nd place with a time of 2:16:00 and was followed by Reid Coolsaet in 27^th place with a time of 2:16:29.

This is the final installment of Weekend Warrior’s look at the 2012 London Olympics’ Athletics Programme. With the hockey season nearing and CBA talks heating up, as well as the PGA Tour’s Fed Ex Cup Playoffs and the Ryder Cup looming just around the corner, we will be returning to golf and hockey posts within the next week. 

Olympics Track and Field Part 2: Long Distance, Relays and Field Events

Athletics Begins Tomorrow in London

Today, Weekend Warriors previews the long distance and relay track events, as well as the field events that Canada has athletes competing in. While I would love to devote the same coverage to all field events and the race walking events as I do to the track events, I cannot profess to know nearly as much about the field and walking events as I do about the track. I apologize for the long blog post, but I hope it provides some insight into the Athletics programme that starts tomorrow. And so we start with the 5000m.

Men’s 5000m Run

The men’s 5000 has been dominated on the world stage by Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele since he took over from countryman Haile Gebresselaisse at the 2004 Olympics in Athens earning Silver in the 5000 and Gold in the 10 000. However, the world record holder at 5000m has been on a slow decline since winning double gold in Beijing 2008 and is not contesting the 5000m this year, opting to compete in only the 10 000. This means it is someone else’s turn to rise to the top of the distance totem pole, and the favourite of this Olympic Games is hometown hero Mohammad Farah. Farah won gold at last year’s World Championships and while ranked 8^th in the world this year at the distance is favoured going in due to his racing savvy. Others expected to contest closely for a medal in this event are the United States’ Bernard Lagat (personal best of 12:53.60 and former world 5000m champion), as well as 17 year old Ethiopian wunderkind Hagos Gebrihwet, who holds this year’s second fastest time.. Expect this race to be extremely tactical with a blistering last lap. Canadian Content: Cameron Levins, NCAA Champion at 5000 and 10 000 will represent Canada in this event, but is not expected to be a factor.

Predictions – 1) Edwin Soi – KEN 2) Mo Farah – GBR 3) Bernard Lagat – USA

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele

Men’s 10 000m Run

In what may be his Olympic swan song, Kenenisa Bekele enters this event ranked 3^rd in the world this year, and is in search of one thing and one thing only; another Olympic Gold medal. Bekele could be in tough however, coming off of injuries and inconsistent training for the first time in his career. Kenyans Wilson Kiprop and Moses Masai are currently 1 and 2 in the world, but Kenenisa and his younger brother Tariku Bekele both have times within a second and a half of the world lead and will be factors. Again, British poster boy Mohammad Farah will be a factor as he is coming off a silver medal in this event at last year’s world Championships. This could be the most exciting event of the Games, if you’re a distance fan that is. Canadian Content: Canada will be represented by NCAA 10 000m Champion Cameron Levins and 21 year old Mohammad Ahmed of St. Catharines. Ahmed boasts a 4^th place finish at the World Junior Championships over this distance in 2010. Both of these athletes will be long shots to break into the top 10 however.

Predictions – 1) Kenenisa Bekele – ETH 2) Mo Farah – GBR 3) Tariku Bekele – ETH

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase

To the casual track fans, this is the event in which you get to watch people take oftentimes painful tumbles into a pit of water, where you run the risk of having 1/8^th inch steel spikes, which can do quite a bit of damage (I speak from experience), slice up your back. This event almost entirely eliminates the sit and kick mentality as it champions rhythm running due to the barriers that the athletes must navigate, and is often won by smooth runners. It comes as no surprise that this event has never been won by anyone other than a Kenyan. Two of the all time greats in this event will compete in these games: Brimin Kipruto and Ezekiel Kemboi will race in the Kenyan colours and are expected to contest for a medal. American Evan Jager is a surprise on the scene boasting this year’s 4^th fastest time, but it is yet to see how he will do in navigating the rounds. Canadian Content: Alex Genest will contest the steeplechase for Canada but is not expected to advance out of the heats.

Predictions: 1) Brimin Kipruto – KEN 2) Mahiedine MEKHISSI-BENABBAD – FRA 3) Ezekiel Kemboi - KEN

Men’s 110m Hurdles

A showdown between current world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba, and former world record holder Liu Xiang of China is imminent, but may not be the match up that produces an Olympic Gold. Robles has experienced injuries all year long, and after false starting in Beijing and being a virtual non factor on the world stage in the last few years, Xiang is coming into these games with a large question mark hovering over him. Americans Aries Merrit, Jason Richardson, and Jeff Porter boast 3 of the top 4 times this year and could potentially sweep the podium if they can make it through the rounds safely. Canadian Content: No Canadians will compete in this event.

Predictions: 1) Jason Richardson – USA 2) Aries Merrit – USA 3) Dayron Robles - CUB

Men’s 400m Hurdles

An event that used to be as automatic for America as the steeplechase was for Kenya is no longer a lock. The world lead is held by Puerto Rican Javier Culson, and Britain is championing another medal threat in David Greene who is ranked 2^nd in the world this year. Expect American veterans Angelo Taylor and Kerron Clement to show up and contend for a medal. Canadian Content: Canada does not have an entry in this event.

Predictions: 1) David Greene – GBR 2) Angelo Taylor – USA 3) Javier Culson – PUR

Jamaica Intends to Continue Their Relay Dominance

Men’s 4x100m Relay

Jamaica vs USA showdown, but Jamaica has the opportunity to put together the first relay ever that consists of all sub 9.80 second runners and is expected to push the 37 second barrier and be the first team ever to dip into the 36s in the 4x1. The United States needs to somehow avoid what seems to have become routinely bad handoffs and they may come close to pushing the Jamaican team. However Jamaica is unbeatable. That’s not a bold statement. It’s fact. My prediction of Jamaica for first is not a prediction. It’s going to happen. Canadian Content: In 2008 at Beijing the Canadian relay team finished 6^th. They will be expected to make the finals this time around, but not compete for a medal.

Predictions: 1) Jamaica 2) USA 3) France

Men’s 4x400m Relay

This event, like the 4x1 for the Jamaicans, is a virtual lock for the Americans. Each year it seems as if a different team appears to push them, but on the final leg, someone has broken away for the United States and led them to gold once again. How dominant is America in this event? They haven’t lost an Olympic 4x400 dating back to 1976 (excluding the boycotted 1980 Games in the USSR). Cuba and the Bahamas will be the Americans closest competitors in this event. Canadian Content: Canada is not fielding a 4x400m relay team.

Men’s Marathon

The Oldest Olympic event, and the longest at 26.2 miles and 42.2 kilometers, traditionally concludes the Olympic Games, and it is no different this year. Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya is the favourite going into the event, but anything can happen over such a long distance. Again, expect this event to be dominated by east Africans. Canadian Content: Dylan Wykes, Eric Gillis, and Reid Coolsaet will represent Canada in this event, but will not be factors.

Men’s Decathlon

After American, Ashton Eaton, set the current Decathlon World Record at the American Olympic Trials this past June, he cemented himself as the favourite in the Decathlon. Eaton is almost 500 points clear of the next Athlete and will probably only push his World Record further now that he’s competing internationally. This event truly does determine the world’s best athlete as these men compete in the 100, 110 Hurdles, 400, 1500, High Jump, Long Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Put, Discus Throw and Javelin Throw. These athletes are the definition of the Olympic slogan of Faster, Higher, Stronger. Canadian Content: Canadian Damian Warner will compete in this event, but likely not medal.

Predictions: 1) Ashton Eaton – USA 2) Trey Hardee – USA 3) Pascal Behrenbruch – GER

Canada's Derek Drouin Leaping 2.33m

Men’s High Jump

Russian Ivan Ukhov enters the event with a season best of 2.39m and a personal best of 2.40m and will be the man that most will be looking to defeat in the high jump. However, there are 22 men who have bested 2.30m this year, and in an event where weather determines jumping conditions so much, all of these athletes are in contention. Including Canadian medal hopeful Derek Drouin of Sarnia, Ontario. Drouin enters the event with one of the most impressive resumes of all contestants. Drouin is a 3 time NCAA Champion in the discipline, including 2 outdoor and 1 indoor champion. Not bad for an athlete who is entering his Senior year at Indiana University. Drouin will be a top 8 threat, but will have to leapfrog Americans Erik Kynard and Jesse Williams in order to claim a spot on the podium. Canadian Content: Both Drouin and Mike Mason will look to claim spots inside the top 8 while wearing the Red and White of Canada.

Predictions: 1) Ivan Ukhov – RUS 2) Jesse Williams – USA 3) Derek Drouin - CAN

Men’s Shot Put

Arguably Canada’s best chance at a medal in Track and Field. Dylan Armstrong throws for Canada coming off of a silver at last year’s World Championships, and will go head to head with the three Americans: Christian Cantwell, Reese Hoffa, and Ryan Whiting. The United States will look to sweep the podium, and Armstrong will likely need to have a toss of upwards of 22m in order to get there, but it is not out of reach for him.  Canadian Content: Justin Rodhe will compete for Canada alongside medal threat Dylan Armstrong.

Predictions: 1) Reese Hoffa – USA 2) Christian Cantwell  - USA 3) Dylan Armstrong – CAN

Men’s Hammer Throw

Canadian James Steacy competes in the event that is traditionally dominated by Eastern European countries. Don’t believe me? The top 5 entries in this event are from Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary and Russian. Considering I can’t even lift this event’s implement, nor pronounce these men’s names, I won’t attempt to have the audacity to make predictions for this event.

Men’s Javelin Throw

Canadian Curtis Moss will don the Red and White for Canada in this event, which is again dominated by Eastern European athletes. The Javelin has been dominated in the past by Finland native Tero Pitkamaki, and Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen, and these two men will be expected to be at the top of the podium again. Look for them to bring the heat in the finals and throw much further than their current seasons bests of 84.90m and 84.72m respectively.

2012 Olympic Games - Track and Field Sprint/Mid Distance Preview

Athletics Starts in 2 Days

With the London 2012 Olympic Games already underway, the countdown to the Athletics (Track and Field to us North Americans) is on, and in two days the events that are the reason for the Olympic slogan of Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) will be underway. For most casual viewers, this portion of the Olympics is the most exciting with events like the 100 meter dash drawing gasps from all corners of the world as 8 men race to earn the title of World’s Fastest Man. For others, events like the 3000 meter steeplechase, or the Games’ closing event, the men’s marathon, pique their interest the most. Stepping away from hockey for a moment, Weekend Warriors previews the track and field programme of the XXX Olympiad. Today’s entry covers the sprint and middle distance events.

Men’s 100m Dash

Since bursting on the scene during the 2008 Beijing Olympics with world records in the 100, 200 and running the penultimate leg on the world record Jamaican 4x100m relay, Usain Bolt has quickly become the face of track and field, especially with his captivating personality, and lightning-bolt quick times that include current 100m world record of 9.58 seconds, and 200m world record of 19.19 seconds. However, Bolt hasn’t quite been the same since a false start in the 2011 World Championships and a string of injuries. Enter in Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake. The heir apparent to Usain Bolt, and this season’s fastest man over 100m and last season’s fastest man over 200m in what is the second fastest 200 of all time at 19.26 seconds. In this event expect a duel between these two teammates, as well as 2004 Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin of the United States to challenge for a medal alongside former world record holder Asafa Powell and current American record holder, Tyson Gay. Canadian Content: Justyn Warner represents Canada in this event, entering the meet with a personal best of 10.15 seconds. Expect Warner to make a push to get into the quarter finals and potentially the semi finals.

Predictions: 1) Usain Bolt - JAM 2) Yohan Blake - JAM 3) Justin Gatlin - USA

Men’s 200m Dash

With much the same cast of characters as the 100m, this event will likely be yet another Bolt/Blake showdown with a different twist on it. Christophe Lemaitre of France enters the event with a personal best of 19.80 seconds and holds the distinction of being the only Caucasian to ever break 10 seconds in the 100 and 20 seconds in the 200. He will certainly be a medal threat, as well as American Wallace Spearmon. Canadian Content: Tremaine Harris, Jarred Connaughton and Aaron Brown represent Canada in this discipline with Harris coming in ranked 9^th and Connaughton ranked 11^th in the world this year in the event.

Predictions: 1) Usain Bolt - JAM 2) Yohan Blake - JAM 3) Christophe Lemaitre - FRA

Lightning Bolt

Men’s 400m Dash

An event that used to be so predictable on the world stage has now become one of the most wide open events due to the fall of American dominance, and an uprising of young international talent that has come on the scene. Lashawn Merrit of the United States is the defending Olympic Champion in this event, but is competing in just his first full season back on the international circuit after sitting out a doping ban. No man has broke 44 seconds yet this year, and a cluster of men with personal bests and seasons bests all sub 44.5 means that this is any man’s race. And that man doesn’t necessarily have to have legs. South African double amputee Oscar Pistorious will contend this event after protesting the IAAF ruling that his blade runners gave him an unfair advantage. He will not be a threat to medal however. Canadian Content: Daundre Barnaby will represent Canada in this event, entering with a time of 45.67 seconds.

Predicitions: 1) Kirani James –GRENADA 2) Lashawn Merrit – USA 3) Tony McQuay – USA

Men’s 800m Run

The men’s 800m dash is David Rudisha’s to lose. Rudisha of Kenya holds the current world record of 1:41.01, and the next fastest man is Abubaker Kaki of Sudan at 1:42.23. Kaki has struggled through an inconsistent year of results in the high 1:44s as well as a few DNFs. Duane Solomon of the United States boasts the 3^rd fastest time of the year at 1:43.44, but set this time in a single file, time trial like race. In a series of rounds that favour tactical racing, a lot of men who aren’t in the top 10 this year come into play. Enter Yuriy Borzakovskiy who has been a fixture in the 800 on the world stage for 12 years now. Borza, who is the 2004 Olympic champion won bronze at last years world championships and cannot be counted out. Like the 400, this race is wide open and aside from Rudisha, the medals will go to those who can best navigate the rounds. Canadian Content: Geoff Harris will represent Canada in this event, and enters with a personal best of 1:46.12

Predictions: 1) David Rudisha – KEN 2) Abubaker Kaki – SUD 3) Nigel Amos – BOT

Men’s 1500m Run

Three men have all ran sub 3:30 in the 1500 this year. All three of these men are Kenyan. Surprise, surprise. In all seriousness, the favourite in this event has to be Aspbel Kiprop of Kenya. Kiprop may be the best 1500m runner of all time to never win an Olympic Gold*. This event, like the 800 will depend on who properly navigates the rounds and who can conserve the most energy leading up to the final. Matt Centrowitz of the United States snagged bronze in last year’s world championships and will be another medal threat in this year’s Games. Nick Willis of New Zealand was awarded the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics* and will be among a handful of guys expected to have a shot at a medal. But with 12 men in the final, there are 12 medal prospects which place a lot of emphasis on getting through the heats and semi finals. Canadian Content: Nathan Brannen will represent Canada in this event and will be a threat to make the finals.

Predictions: 1) Aspbel Kiprop – KEN 2) Matthew Centrowitz – USA 3) Silas Kiplagat – KEN

*Kiprop was awarded Gold after originally winning Silver when 1st place finisher, Rashid Ramzi tested positive for EPO at Beijing 2008. This Doping violation also moved Nick Willis up to Silver from Bronze.