Tuesday, July 8, 2008

P.E.I.’s newest Olympian gets no time to rest


P.E.I.’s newest Olympian gets no time to rest
Connaughton goes to Europe to train after winning berth in Beijing Games

The Guardian

Jared Connaughton of New Haven had little time to enjoy his Olympic berth.

Immediately after qualifying for the Beijing Games, Connaughton left for Europe Sunday night to begin training with the Canadian men’s 4x100-metre relay team.

Connaughton punched his ticket for Beijing after winning the men’s 200-metre event at the Canadian track and field championships Sunday in Windsor, Ont.

He won the event with a stadium record time of 20.34 seconds.

Connaughton finished fifth in the 100-metre final Saturday at the nationals with a time of 10:34.

Pierre Browne won the event with a 10:19 time.

He will be in Europe with the Canadian relay squad for two weeks before returning to his North American training digs in Arlington, Tex., for a week before jetting to Singapore to train for the Olympics.

The track and field component of the Games begin on Aug. 15.

World championship medallists Tyler Christopher and Gary Reed will lead Canada’s track team at the Beijing Olympics.

The 29-member team was announced Monday following the four-day Canadian championships.

The team’s goal in Beijing is to bring home two medals after being shut out at the 2000 Games in Sydney and the 2004 Games in Athens.

Six athletes — including star hurdler Perdita Felicien — have been granted extensions to qualify for the Olympic team based on previous international accomplishments.

Felicien, a former world indoor and outdoor champion, is still nursing a foot injury.

The six athletes must achieve the required selection criteria by July 22 to be confirmed to the team.

Stratford's Kara Grant was named to the Canadian modern pentathlon team last month.

Amy Kneebone of Charlottetown and Contessa Scott of Clyde River will be competing at the Beijing Paralympic Games as members of the Canadian goalball team.

(Includes information from The Canadian Press)

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