One disqualified, two false starts in hurdles drama

It was a historic moment in Canadian track and field history when Jessica Zelinka won the 100m hurdles in a blazing 12.68 seconds on the final day of the Olympic trials. Eight women stepped to the line, six of them with the Olympic “A” standard including four former Olympians. Zelinka crossed the line first.

The event was not without intensity. Former Olympian and World Champion Perdita Felicien false started and was immediately disqualified. She decided to race under protest based on the noise levels prior to the gun. The gun than malfunctioned and athletes again jumped out of the blocks only to be called back a second time. On the third try, Zelinka took control of the race followed by Phylicia George, yesterday’s 100m Champion, in 12.72 and Nikkita Holder in 12.80. Former Olympic bronze medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep hit her seventh hurdle and was unable to recover finishing fifth. An interview with Lopes-Schliep is available here.

Zelinka was asked here whether she would be giving up her spot for friend Angela White, who also has the “A” standard and finished fourth. Zelinka’s coach, Les Gramantik confirmed later on that she would put friendships aside and compete in both the Heptathalon and 100m hurdles in London.

The bittersweet race has enabled Zelinka, George and Holder to qualify for the 100m hurdles however it marks the end of an era for former Olympians Felicien, Lopes-Schliep and Whyte. As Zelinka said in a post race interview, “There was no good outcome to this race.”

Three 800m Athletes Handed their Tickets

Both “A” standard athletes Melissa Bishop and Jessica Smith qualified for the Olympics today finishing second and third in the 800m. Lemlem Ogbasilassie won the race in 2:07.37, however, she does not have the “A” standard and will therefore not qualify for the Olympic team. Bishop and Smith finished in 2:07.56 and 2:07.70 respectively with Dianne Cummins finishing fourth in 2:07.79 . The race went out slow with the first lap in 67 seconds meaning the women had to run a negative split of approximately 60 seconds to finish.

On the men’s side, Geoff Harris continued his incredible season winning the race in a time of 1:46.49 and also qualifying with Rising Star Status. Harris was closely followed by Nathan Brannen who finished in a time of 1:46.74. Harris and Brannen are training partners and Harris describes their training relationship in an interview available here. Third place went to Andrew Ellerton finishing in a time of 1:46.86 who will undoubtedly be disappointed after running “A” standard last year.

Both the men’s and women’s 200m races were down to the wire. On the men’s side, Tremaine Harris came first in a time of 20.68. Oluwasegun Makine (20.75) took the second position leaving Jared Connaughton (20.96) to finish in third and secure his spot on the Olympic team. An interview with Connaugton is available here. After finishing in a near tie in the 100m yesterday, Crystal Emmanuel came back to finish first in a time of 23.27 ahead of Kimberly Hyacinthe in 23.74 and hometown favourite Ammon Nelson in 23.90.

Rising Star Sarah Wells stole the show in the women’s 400m hurdles finishing in a personal best time of 55.71. Because Wells has run two “B” standards already this season in addition to this championship, she is now eligible to go to London.

Alex Genest finished first in the 3000m steeplechase and also secured his spot to London having achieved the “A” standard last year and the “B” standard earlier this season. Genest ran a comfortable race and did not take the lead until the final water jump, just 200m’s from the finish.

Full results of the final day of competition are available here:

http://www.2012trials.ca/Live_Results/Trials/index.php?Day=Saturday

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