| Tuesday, July 28 2009 - Rob Watson And Reid Coolsaet Named To Canadian World Championships Team |
Reid Coolsaet and Rob Watson were among 31 athletes named to the Canadian team for next month's World Championships in Athletics. For Coolsaet, this marks his second World Championships after participating in the 2005 Championships in Helsinki. It also marks a triumphant return to the World stage after a challenging 2008 campaign which was derailed by injuries. Coolsaet qualified for the Championships by winning the 2009 Canadian Marathon Championships.
Watson will be making his first appearance at a major championships. The two time defending Canadian Champion in the 3000 metre steeplechase has had an incredible season. Watson has bettered the World Championships "B" standard an incredible six times and has improved his lifetime best more than 10 seconds to 8 minutes and 27.09 seconds, a time that ranks him fifth in Canadian history.
The 2009 World Championships in Athletics will be held in Berlin, Germany from August 15-23. |
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| Sunday, July 19 2009 - Speed River At Heusden |
A quick update from Heusden, Hilary Stellingwerff was fourth in the women's 1500 just off her season's best in 4:11.18. Conditions were windy and the pace was slow through 800 metres. Stellingwerff made a bold move into the lead with 400 to go, only to be passed in the last 200 metres. In the men's steeplechase Rob Watson was sixth in 8:28.24. Watson was on World Championships A Standard (8:23.00) pace until 600 to go. Both Watson and Stellingwerff will be in action in Barcelona next weekend. Eric Gillis was ninth in the 5000 Metre National Race with a time of 13:51.04
Rob Watson's Race
Track and Field Videos on Flotrack
Hilary Stellingwerff's Race
Track and Field Videos on Flotrack
Post Race Interview- Rob Watson
Track and Field Videos on Flotrack
Post Race Interview- Hilary Stellingwerff
Track and Field Videos on Flotrack
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| Monday, July 13 2009 - Coolsaet Eighth at Boilermarker 15k |
In his final preparation race before the World Championships Reid Coolsaet placed eighth at the Boilermaker 15 kilometre road race in Utica, New York. The Boilermaker race is widely regarded as the world's best 15 kilometre race. Coolsaet's time of 45:17 was also good enough for the top North American. His eighth place finish was also the highest North American finisher since Arturo Barrios in 1993.
In other Speed River action Taylor Milne set a new club record and personal best in winning his 800 metre section at the Guldensporenmeeting in Kortjik, Belgium. Milne recorded a time 1:49.64. Scott Arnald finished third in his 1500 metre race in a time of 3:48.48.
Milne's Race
Track and Field Videos on Flotrack
Arnald's RaceTrack and Field Videos on Flotrack
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| Saturday, July 11 2009 - Genest Fourth At World University Games |
After battling electrolyte imbalances and illness the past four days Alex Genest was incredible fourth at the World University Games Saturday in Belgrade, Serbia. Genest who barely made the final with an 8:57.43 clocking in the heats, was part of a lead pack of eight that quickly moved to the front of the race. After passing the first kilometer in 2 minutes 47.95 seconds the pace slowed considerably as the lead pack covered the next kilometre in barely under 3 minutes. As the pack entered the final two laps, Genest began to move up and was fifth as they hit the bell lap. Genest continued to move up and as they came over the final water barrier he was in a battle for the bronze. Germany's Steffen Uliczka's finish proved too strong as he captured the bronze relegating Genest to fourth.
Genest's time of 8 minutes 27.53 seconds was a life time best and World Championships "B" qualifying standard as well as the sixth fastest all-time Canadian just behind Speed River teammate Rob Watson who ranks fifth with his best of 8:27.09. Genest will now head to Belgium to meet up with his Speed River teammates and begin his European Tour, where he will chase the World Championship "A" standard of 8:23.00. |
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| Friday, July 10 2009 - Boorsma 15th in 1500 Metre Final At World University Games |
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After battling food poisoning and dehydration for much of the past two days, Kyle Boorsma finished a disappointing 15th at the World University Games 1500 metre final. Boorsma's time of 3 minutes 54.64 seconds was well back of Russia's Viatcheslav Sokolov winning time of 3 minutes 42.49.
here. |
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| Friday, July 10 2009 - Watson and Gillis Second At Trofeo International In Barakaldo |
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Rob Watson continued his impressive season with a second place finish at the Trofeo International in Barakaldo, Spain. Watson recorded his fourth World Championships "B" standard of the season with his 8 minutes and 29.55 second performance. In other action in Barakaldo, Eric Gillis placed second in the men's 5000 metres in a time of 14:05.50. Gillis lead for much of the racing before being passed in the final stages by Ethiopia' Hailemeskel Mulatu. Results available here. |
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| Thursday, July 9 2009 - Boorsma To Run FISU 1500 Final Thursday At 1:15 PM |
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Kyle Boorsma will run FISU 1500 Metre Final Thursday at 1:15 PM EST. Results will be here. |
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| Wednesday, July 8 2009 - Genest Qualifies For World University Games Final |
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Alex Genest qualified for Saturday's final in the men's 3000 metre steeplechase Wednesday morning at the World University Games. Genest was sixth in his heat but managed to qualify as one of the four fastest times non-placing qualifiers. Full results here. Genest will run the final Saturday morning at 11:05 AM EST. |
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| Tuesday, July 7 2009 - Boorsma Qualifies For World University Games Final |
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Kyle Boorsma rebounded from his disappointment at the Canadian Championships Tuesday by qualifying for the World University Games final in Belgrade, Serbia. Boorsma did much of the leading during the race to ensure a quick pace as he crossed the line third in his section to secure the final automatic qualifying spot in his section. Teammate Tim Konoval narrowly missed joining him in the final as he was the first athlete eliminated on time after finishing seventh in his section. Boorsma will race the final Thursday July 9th at 1:15 pm est. Tomorrow Alex Genest will run the qualifying heats of the men’s steeplechase Wednesday at 5:15 am est.
In other Speed River action Hilary Stellingwerff ran 4 minutes 13.62 for 1500 metres to finish twelfth at the Athletissima 2009 meet in Lasaunne, Switzerland.
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| Tuesday, July 7 2009 - Genest To Run FISU Steeple Heats Wednesday Morning |
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Alex Genest will run FISU steeple heats Wednesday at 5:15 AM EST. Results will be here |
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| Monday, July 6 2009 - Konoval and Boorsma To Race At FISU, Stellingwerff In Lasuanne Tuesday. |
Tim Konoval (12:40 pm est) and Kyle Boorsma (1 pm est) will be racing round one Tuesday at World University Games. The top three in each heat and the next three times will make the final. Results will be here.
Hilary Stellingwerff will be racing at the Athletissima 2009 in Lausanne at 2:25 pm est. Results will be here. |
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| Saturday, July 4 2009 - Milne In Madrid |
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Taylor Milne aiming for World Championships A Standard 3:36.20 Saturday in Madrid. Race will be at 3:55 pm EST. Results will be here. |
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| Friday, July 3 2009 - "Live" Results From AO Championships and Ontario Canada Summer Games Trials |
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The Windsor Legion will be posting Live Results from this weekend's meet. |
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| Thursday, July 2 2009 - Reid Coolsaet Visits Wildwood Academy |
hen it comes time to ask questions of the world-class athlete in front of them, the two dozen sports campers are easily distracted by Freezies at the end of a hot summer day.
In that regard, the kids at the Fitness and Team Building Camp at Wildwood Academy are no different than their peers at other schools.
But for these kids, ages seven to 13, the camp is a rare opportunity to learn about a variety of sports they might otherwise not get to participate in.
“Being a smaller school, it’s hard to have extra curriculars going on,” said Paul Casey, a teacher at Wildwood Academy, a school of about 60 students who require help with conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder or autism. “They just don’t get the chance to try sports that most other schools would offer.”
And they don’t often get the opportunity to challenge a Canadian champion to a race. So when a camper asks Reid Coolsaet if he’ll run for them, it quickly turns into an impromtu race, with students quickly looking for someone to hold their Freezie while they challenge the four-time national 5,000-metre champ to a dash across the school playground.
Coolsaet, a former high school classmate of Casey’s, was at the camp Monday to teach the kids how to prepare and stretch and then give them some pointers on running. Coolsaet said it was a good starting point for the camp because running forms the foundation of so many other sports. And, the 29-year-old said, it is widely accessible.
“It doesn’t take a lot of equipment to run. You can do it any time you want — you can’t go out and play hockey whenever you want,” he said. “And you can do it for years and years and years.”
And despite the individual nature of the sport, running also helps introduce one of the main goals of the camp: team building.
“Cross country is a very team-oriented sport,” Coolsaet said. “Your scores add up for a team score. You also have your own goals as well as the team’s.”
On the white board in the gymnasium are four large letters — TEAM, Together Everyone Achieves More. Monday, Casey and the camp’s other organizer, Mike Packowski, used relay as an example of athletes working together. That will set up the rest of the week, when they cover sports such as soccer, baseball, ball hockey, volleyball and badminton.
Though Packowski said a few students at the camp compete in sports outside of school, many of them lack the confidence to get involved in a team setting.
“They’re afraid to join because they don’t know anyone,” he said. “But everyone’s in the same boat. They can fit in and become part of a team. We just hope to give them the basic skills and hopefully the confidence.”
Both Packowski and Casey believe being a part of a team can in turn help improve social skills.
Casey said Coolsaet delivered another important message to the kids. He told them of the injury suffered during training that prevented him qualifying for the Olympics. Coolsaet came back from the injury, a pinched nerve
“That teaches them about perseverance and setting goals,” Casey said. “That’s something that can help them, even in school.”
Casey and Packowski plan to make the camp an annual event. Though this year’s camp is made up of kids from Wildwood, it is open to all students with learning differences.
Courtesy Oakville Beaver |
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| Wednesday, July 1 2009 - Speed River Dominates Aileen Meagher |
Speed River athletes put on quite a show at tonight's Aileen Meagher meet in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The headline of the meet was Eric Gillis stirring run in the men's 3000 metres. Gillis broke the meet record, in recording the fast time run by a Canadian this year in winning the final event of the meet. Gillis' time of 7 minutes and 56.78 seconds was also a lifetime best.
In the penultimate race of the evening Speed River placed three athletes in the top four of the men's 1500 metres, led by Allan Brett. Brett rebounded from a disappointing Canadian Championships this past weekend, to win the race in a lifetime best performance of 3 minutes and 46.42 seconds. Brett was quickly followed across the line by teammates Rob Jackson and Scott Arnald who finished third and fourth respectively. Jackson's clocking of 3 minutes 47.19 seconds was a lifetime best and broke the Speed River Junior (under 20) record for the event.
In other action Owen Willems added a bronze in the men's shot put to the Speed River medal haul. Willems had a best throw of 15.01 metres. While Nadine Frost finished seventh in the women's 800 metres just outside of her lifetime best with a time of 2 minutes 13.77 seconds.
Full results available here. |
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| Wednesday, July 1 2009 - Race Series Director John Marsden Honoured by Mayor |
Mayor Karen Farbridge honoured local citizen John Marsden with the Mayor's Awards as part of the Guelph Awards of Excellence gala last night.
Marsden was among five winners who were presented an original pen-and-ink drawing by local artist Wayne Forest, depicting the old and new City Hall buildings.
"It's a privilege to have the opportunity to recognize citizens who exemplify the City's vision of making a difference," said Mayor Karen Farbridge.
The two people who wrote letters of nomination for local running coach John Marsden used a number of words to describe him: supportive, genuine, motivating, approachable, positive, and generous.
When his own coach and mentor, the legendary Victor Matthews, passed away suddenly in 2004, John kept Matthews’ running group together and proposed they rename themselves the Guelph Victors in his memory. Today, John volunteers several hours a week coaching the Victors, which now has more than 100 runners and walkers as members. He is also race director for the Thanksgiving Day Races and the Guelph Athletics Society running series, and writes a bi-weekly column in the Guelph Mercury.
John’s approach in all of his endeavours is one of inclusion and encouragement. In his own words, he will “work with anyone who shows up.” He has made a special effort to encourage participation in young people. John motivates people of all skill levels to be active and healthy, to strive for personal achievement, and to have a good time while they’re doing it. In the words of his nominator, “He makes us all feel like special athletes, whether we are winning races, breaking records, or simply participating.”
In an era when inactivity and obesity are a major public health concern in Canada, Guelph is fortunate indeed to have John Marsden in our community.
With files from the City of Guelph release |
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| Wednesday, July 1 2009 - Rollin' With The River- Season 3- Plans |
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Guelphrunning would like to apologize for there not having been any videos recently. Here is the plan for the rest of the season, we are going to send a camera over to Europe, when the footage comes back it will be edited into the final few episodes of the season. Stay tuned. |
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