The second day for the Canadian athletics competition at the 2012 Olympic Games produced a Canadian record, a top ten finish, and three (3) top twelve performances by outstanding Athlete’s.
Vancouver Inaki Gomez finished 13th in the men’s 20-kilometre race walk final with a new Canadian time of 1:20:58. Gomez continually worked his way from the 28th position at the 8-kilometre split and by the 10-kilometre marker he was at 18th position.
The 12km split he climbed to 16th and the 18km marker he was sitting at 14th, but eventually finished 13th overall.
London Ontario’s Jessica Zelinka and Humbolt’s Brianne Theisen finished in the top 12 in the demanding two day heptathlon.
Zelinka’s score of 6480 points placed her in seventh and she told the media “I don’t know what to make of it, five of the seven events were exactly what I wanted but it was hard going into the 800-metres knowing I wasn’t going to medal.”
The original results showed Zelinka placed 6th and Theisen ended up in 10th. However after a successful appeal from German Lilly Schwarzkopf the official results were updated providing her with silver and bumping Zelinka and Theisen to seventh and 11th respectively.
Schwarzkopf appealed the 800-metres results which had her as disqualified and did not get any points towards her final heptathlon score.
Theisen finished 11th overall with a two day total of 6383 points. “Top ten (at time of interview in the mixed zone the results had her tenth) was my goal so I’m happy. Physically I was prepared but mentally the Olympics are draining. I’m young, this was a great experience.”
Black Creek’s Cameron Levins challenged in the men’s 10,000-metres final and managed to finish 11th and crossed the line in 27:40.86 “I was there with the best in the world for 24 laps; I just don’t have the strength yet to kick with them.”
Mohammed Ahmed of St. Catharines finished 18th in the 10,000-metres with a time of 28:13.91 and Justyn Warner of Markham, finished third in his 100-metres.
In the women’s 400-metres semi final Jenna Martin of Bridgewater, finished seventh in her heat stopping the clock at 52.53 seconds, she did not advance to the final. Martin was visibly upset but will leave with no regrets Mélanie Blouin of Quebec tied for ninth in group B of the women’s pole vault qualifying.
Blouin finished with a mark of 4.25-metres and did not advance to the final. “I would have liked to have done better, but this was a great experience and I wouldn’t change anything. ”
Brampton’s Daundre Barnaby finished 6th in the men’s 400-metres clocking 46.04 and failed to advance.
Special “THANKS” to Athletes Canada for the info.
For news, schedule and results visit www.london2012.athletics.ca.
