Guelph Athletes Qualify for the Olympics
Posted Oct 22, 2011 07:27:17 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two marathon runners from Guelph have qualified for the Olympics.
Guelph Speed River Track and Field Club teammates Reid Coolsaet and Eric Gillis both got Olympic qualifying times at last week’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Coolsaet came in third overall with a time of 2:10:55. Gillis was fourth overall, coming just one second under the Olympic “A” qualifying standard, running the 42.2 km race in 2:11:28.
Coolsaet has earned a spot on the Canadian Olympic team. Gillis tells 570 News he will compete in London, unless another Canadian gets a time faster than his before the team is put together next year. Fellow Speed River team mate Rob Watson could potentially knock Gillis from his Olympic standing. He also ran last weekend’s race but dropped out after 30 kilometres. Coach Dave Scott Thomas says Watson will try again within the next couple months.
To prepare for his potential spot on the Olympic team Gillis is hoping to participate in a couple training camps. One is in Arizona in a town located at 7,000 ft. That kind of altitude helps long distance athletes build-up red blood cells which in turn helps with endurance.
Canada hasn’t had a runner in the marathon event at the Olympics since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
