Beijing Olympics just a top-four finish away
Tabia Charles and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep poised to qualify for Olympics
July 04, 2008 - 11:23
By Brad Kelly
A couple of Durham Region track athletes are poised to punch their tickets to the Beijing Olympics.
Both Tabia Charles of Pickering, and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Whitby, breezed through their respective events on Friday at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Windsor, and need just a top four finish in the finals on Saturday to become eligible for the Olympic Games in August.
Charles, who is the top-ranked long jumper in the country, easily surpassed the qualifying standard of 5.80m with a mark of 6.03m on Friday afternoon to qualify for the final on Saturday afternoon.
Lopes-Schliep did likewise in the 100m hurdles, breezing through her heat in first place in a time of 13.23 on Friday night, making her the favourite for Saturday’s final.
Both women need just a top-4 finish in the final to guarantee a trip to Beijing.
Despite being the overwhelming favourite in her event, Charles wanted to maintain her edge in Friday’s qualifying.
“You tend to,” she said of letting up a bit. “Sometimes you lose your edge, but you still want to go out there and do your best.”
Knowing she is the best in the country at the moment provides some motivation.
“I want to go out there and do well,” she added. “I want to go out there and show why I’m going to Beijing.”
Lopes-Schliep looked to be in tip-top form on Friday. With Pickering’s Perdita Felicien sitting this meet out with a foot injury, all of the attention in the hurdles shifts to Lopes-Schliep and Angela Whyte of Edmonton.
Despite the added attention, she is looking forward to Saturday’s final.
“I’ve got a couple of things to work on that I could feel in the race,” she said of Friday’s semi. “I have to put all of that together (Saturday). I’m feeling good and positive and excited to run.”
Both will be seeing double duty on Saturday. In addition to the long jump, Charles has qualified for the final in the triple jump. Lopes-Schliep will run in the 100m hurdles final as well as the 100m semifinals.
Another athlete from Durham Region, Pickering’s Anson Henry, was the second fastest runner in the 100m quarterfinals, posting a time of 10.36, moving on to Saturday’s semifinals.
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