The Q’s Victoria Track Series wrapped-up its final meet Saturday with an exciting main event finish, which featured two of Canada’s top runners, two-time Canadian Marathon Champion and two time IAAF World Cross-Country Championships representative for Canada, Jim Finlayson of Victoria and 2:18 marathon runner and training partner, James Landon.

Final Meet – Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010:

The meet also saw 19-time Canadian Champion, Lucy Smith take on an earlier 5000m race during the meet besting all competitors both men and women with a near Canadian Master’s record time (40+) with her outstanding solo finish in 16:59.6 — photo by David Nicholls (http://pbase.com/nicintime)

The main event – the Elite Men’s 5000m, included Ryan McKenzie who has one of the fastest 5000m times in Canadian history (13:30) as a personal best, although he is currently working his way back into fitness, post-injury.
Pacer Trevor O’Brien led the field for 2000m of the first 5000m (12.5 laps). O’Brien is well known for his 800m speed and pacing Steve Osaduik for 20 of the 26.2 miles of the record-setting Royal Victoria Marathon that happened in 2006 with Osaduik’s 2:16:49.

With a large, early lead it appeared Finlayson had the race in his back pocket, before Landon managed to hunt Finlayson down in the final 20 metres of the race – a sprint ensued and Landon pipped Finlayson for the win, breasting the tape in a Series record time of, 14:45’4 to Finlayson’s 14:45’9.

Maurice Tarrant:

The evening also featured Maurice Tarrant who put aside his own Canadian age-group record smashing behavior by pacing a training partner for a few laps before taking off to set a provincial record as a consolation record.
Tarrant, who has owned as many as 58 Canadian age-group records, set four Canadian age-group records in four series races before succumbing to the heat of the Saturday Aug. 14 race – where the temperature at race time was 34 degrees Celsius.

The provincial record (on the Aug. 21) was doubly a consolation record. Tarrant’s training partners who also took on the 5000m race, Marcia Stromsmoe and Les McNeil will be competing in the BC Seniors Games later this summer in the 60-69 age-category.

The meet also saw 19-time Canadian Champion, Lucy Smith take on an earlier 5000m race during the meet besting all competitors both men and women with a near Canadian Master’s record time (40+) with her outstanding solo finish in 16:59.6.

Series seven records in eight meets:

During the series’ eight meets there were seven records set, David Guss of Edmonton raced an (Alberta) Provincial one-mile record time during the July 31 meet. Herb Phillips of Vancouver set the Canadian 70 age-category mile record that same night. Maurice Tarrant took four Canadian age-group records and one British Columbian, Provincial age-group record.

Last Sunday, during the Q’s Victoria Track Series Awards and Silent Auction night, Maurice Tarrant was, for the second time in his career, presented with the inaugural Maurice Tarrant award.

The Q’s Victoria Track Series Annual Maurice Tarrant Performance Award is presented to the athlete who gains the most votes by his contemporaries during the series Tarrant received 83 votes, second place received 29. The other Maurice Tarrant Award, which he won is a club award presented to him by the Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club.
Tarrant will be taking on the 80-plus Canadian age-group record for the half marathon at the Good Life Fitness Marathon Oct. 10, 2010.

1 Mile – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/run/SquamishDays2010OA1mile.html

Triathlon Relay – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/multi/SelfTransTri2010Relay.html

Duathlon Overall – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/multi/SelfTransDu2010Overall.html

Duathlon Relays – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/multi/SelfTransDu2010Relay.html

The records keep on falling for Ellie Greenwood. The Banff resident’s latest accomplishment saw her lower the Canadian Death Race women’s course records by 50 minutes this past weekend, racing the 125 mile distance in 13 hours and 30 minutes. The next fastest female, Denise McHale of Whitehorse finished third overall and almost one hour and a half later.

A new men’s course records was also set by American ultrarunner Hal Koerner who finished in 12:47:21.

This year’s event saw almost 1,500 participants including those who took part in the popular relay division. For solo results click here, for relay results click here.

Category – http://www.gearjammer.ca/media/Results/Results2010/2010GJCategoryResults.pdf

The inaugural Fat Dog 100 ultramarathon was held last weekend in Southern BC. Congratulations to everyone who gutted it out to the finish. Even those who had to drop faced incredible adversity in one of the toughest ultras ever held on BC soil.

Trainharder’s crew took part in the race. We manned the Heather aid station and made sure each racer had a grilled cheese sandwich. We were inspired by your hard work and effort!

Volunteer Accounts

A number of other people who volunteered have written their own accounts:

• Gary Robbin’s, who manned the last aid station before the finish. You read his account from the race here.
• Ean Jackson, who supported a paced a number of friends. His report can be read here.
• Here’s Dave’s report from pacing his friend Tim.

Race Reports

• LEG 2 Race Report by Dani Taillon
• Darin – Fat Dog 100+

Results

Results from each event are now posted:

• 100 Miles – http://mountainmadness.ca/documents/fat_dog_results_100mi_2010.pdf
• 100 Kilometers – http://mountainmadness.ca/documents/fat_dog_results_100km_2010.pdf
• 100 Mile Relay – http://www.mountainmadness.ca/documents/fat_dog_relay_results_2010.pdf

A few photos from the day:

5k – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/run/DivaOnTheRun5K2010OA.html

Sport Distance - http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/run/5PeaksSeymourSport2010.html

The following report is comes courtesy of Trainharder’s official interior reporter Dirk “IKE” Handke. Thanks again as aways Dirk!

==========

What is the ACROSS THE LAKE SWIM all about ?  2010 was the 62nd year of this longest continuously running open water swim event in BC, which got started 1949 as part of the KELOWNA REGATTA. With 450 registered swimmers, it is also now the LARGEST OPEN WATER SWIM in CANADA !

Like so many times before, it all started with a phone call from my boss PANO, the editor-in-chief, of TRAINHARDER.COM, www.trainharder.com

BC’s most comprehensive website for the recreational and more serious endurance athlete.

“Hello IKE, it’s me, PANO, your boss from Vancouver calling. How you are doing? I know it’s really short notice,

but I need you to work, like…tomorrow morning!”

“Tomorrow morning?! Come on PANO! Tomorrow is Saturday and I am all ready to leave right now to drive to the SALT SPRING ISLANDS, to do some

fishing and diving and also to try my new underwater camera. I am completely burned-out and really need this break away!”

“Sorry IKE, but this is SUPER-DOOPER SPECIAL PRIORITY! Maybe a once-in-a-lifetime chance for TRAINHARDER.COM to be the official reporter.

This is a NATIONAL LEVEL ASSIGNMENT, if you play this right, you could make your mark as a SERIOUS REPORTER. There are also BIG PERKS

that come with this assignment, you will be treated like a VIP, a KING. Doesn’t that sound GREAT!”

“Ok PANO, what is it, what are you talking about?”

“It’s the ACROSS THE LAKE SWIM, right there in Kelowna, you must have heard about it, right?!”

“Yeah, kind-of. It starts on the west-side, near the Old Ferry Docks and ends at HOT SANDS BEACH in Kelowna City Park.

That’s about all I know, after all, it’s swimming!”

Tarrant has taken 4-straight Canadian age-group records in 4 attempts during the series. He now owns – pending certification, the 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and Mile (1609m), Canadian age-group records in the 80 to 85-age classification.

Tarrant was also inducted into the Canadian Master’s Athletics Association Hall of Fame, which is located in Toronto – Sunday July 17, 2010.

14-year old Liam Kennell with Victoria Track & Field Club ran the 800m race winning in 2:10.9, he will be competing in the 800m and 1200m distances at the BC Summer Games next week.

Shawn Nelson and Kenyan, Willy Langat battled hard on the final straight in the main event in the men’s 3000m elite race, with Langat taking the win and Nick Walker finishing third. The 3000m win was Langat’s second of the evening as he had taken the lead early during the men’s elite mile, besting fellow countryman Nixon Kiprotich.

19-time Canadian Champion, Lifesport coach and master’s athlete, Lucy Smith won the open 3000m race – her second race of the night with her time of 10:06.5 second and third went to Mark Ritchie and current age-group leader in the 50 – 59 class Buddy Bhandar of Shawnigan Lake.

A third record on the night was narrowly missed by Paul Reimer in the 50 – 59 group he finished second to former Irish international, Paul O’Callaghan with his time of 5:01.9 to O’Callaghan’s 4:50.3, taking the race overall and the 40 – 49 age-group.

Videos will be uploaded throughout the week.

Next meet is Saturday July 31, 2010.

Sprint Distance – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/multi/PeachClassicSprintTri2010.html

Diane Cummins shines at the 22nd Victoria International Track Classic.

Even though Diane Cummins 800m performance at the Victoria International Track Classic was electric, no one can blame her for being a little conflicted.

Cummins won the 800m event, a race she chose to compete in despite her concentrating on the 1500m distance. Not only did she win but she also ran the fastest time in Canada this year, leading Alice Schmidt of the US with her 2:03.02 and new Victorian Lemlem Ogbasilassie, who also ran a personal best time of 2:03.53. Commonwealth qualification standard is 2:01.92.

After competing for Canada internationally for more than ten years, Cummins missed the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with injury-plagued performances that just didn’t allow her to make standard. In 2009 Athletics Canada posthumously dropped her for being too old, cutting off her funding. She is 36-years of age and will be 38 for the 2012 London Olympics.

“I was told by Athletics Canada that I was too old,” Cummins said. “You can not determine the end of my career; I will be the one to decide that.”

Adding further to the confliction was her passing up an opportunity to go to South Africa to watch the 2010 World Cup of Soccer semi-final match between Spain and Germany. She chose to stay in Canada and race in front of her hometown fans. Cummins who is a Victoria crowd favourite once again endeared herself to the audience by telling them during her post-race, track-side interview that she chose to compete at the Victoria Track Classic over watching the 2010 World Cup match live, to a loud and appreciative cheer.

“I so much wanted to be in South Africa and experience what sport can do to lift a country,” said Cummins.

She currently holds the Canadian 800m record with her 1:58.39, which she ran in 2001. She has run at least 16 sub-2:00 800m races while representing Canada.

On Monday, Cummins ran to within 1 second of the required qualifying time in the 1500m distance at the Harry Jerome meet in Vancouver.

Adding to the irony Cummins said, “when I was focusing on the 800, I ran a fast 400 and it was suggested I concentrate on that distance, now that I have been concentrating on 1500 I ran a good 800. “

Providing she finishes top-4 at the Canadian trials, later this month in Toronto, Cummins is unexpectedly off to the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games in October to represent Canada in the 800m distance. What’s old is new again.

In other events, Jessica Zelinka of Calgary and 2008 Beijing 5th place finisher in the Heptathlon finished second to Angela Whyte in the 100m hurdles in 13.30. Whyte, consistently one of Canada’s top hurdlers and a two-time Olympian won the event in 13.11.

Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, a top-five Beijing athlete has medal aspirations for Delhi this fall, he won the men’s shot put last night with a heave of 20.52 metres. World No. 8 Russ Winger of the U.S. was second at 19.53 metres and Amin Nikfar, a Cal Berkeley NCAA alumni and 2008 Beijing Olympian for Iran, was third at 19.41.

In the 1500m Men’s International, former University of Victoria Vike, Geoff Martinson nearly qualified for Delhi – missing the standard by 1 second with his 3:40.92. In that same race there were several personal bests including Comox Valley’s Cameron Levins’ 3:43.20 who red-shirted for NCAA Division 1, Southern Utah University this year placing 4th to 2nd place finisher Daniel Castle of the US with his 3:42.09 and Canadian Matthew Hulse in 3rd with his time of 3:42.63.

Results Victoria International Track Classic, July 7 at University of Victoria

Women 100 Meter Run INT Finals:

1. Plowden, Amber, United States, 11.40; 2. Lawson, Lekeisha, United States, 11.46; 3. Power, Adrienne, Canada, 11.52; 4. Patterson, Courtney, US Virgin Island, 11.68; 5. Hanlon, Maggie, Canada, 12.02; 6. Tran, Sophia, Canada, 12.67.

Women 200 Meter Run DEVELOPMENT:

1. Power, Adrienne, Canada, 23.52; 2. Hanlon, Maggie, Canada, 24.35; 3. Patterson, Courtney, US Virgin Island, 24.51; 4. Tran, Sophia, Canada, 25.98.

Women 400 Meter Run INT.:

1. Schultz, Joanna, United States, 54.34; 2. Tolton, Vicki, Canada, 54.52; 3. Baillie, Kristie, New Zealand, 56.47; 4. Panteau, April, Trinidad & Tobago, 56.49.

Women 800 Meter Run INT.:

1. Cummins, Dianne, Canada, 2:01.29; 2. Schmidt, Alice, United States, 2:03.02; 3. Ogbasilassie, Lemlem, Canada, 2:03.53; 4. Smit, Angela, New Zealand, 2:03.87; 5. Crofts, Helen, Canada, 2:04.03; 6. Peters, Celia, Canada, 2:07.75; 7. MACLEAN, Leanna, Canada, 2:08.17; 8. Johnstone, Rebecca, Canada, 2:08.94; 9. Ryer, Ashley, Canada, 2:09.19; –. Panteau, April, Trinidad & Tobago, DNF.

Women 800 Meter Run NATIONAL:

1. Roche, Anna, New Zealand, 2:08.55; 2. Ratzlaff, Holly, Canada, 2:10.20; 3. Kane, Brianna, Canada, 2:10.61; 4. Westaway, Jenna, Canada, 2:11.40; 5. Hunter, Raeleen, Canada, 2:12.50; 6. Kane, Micheala, Canada, 2:14.89; 7. Degaust, Hayley, Canada, 2:20.60; 8. Currie, Katelyn, Canada, 2:21.92; 9. Cote, Halley, Canada, 2:27.30; –. Pomfret, Kendra, Canada, DNF; –. McInnis, Shauna, Canada, DNF.

Women 1500 Meter Run NATIONAL:

1. Sim, Heather, Canada, 4:31.78; 2. Boyle, Sharie, Canada, 4:32.29; 3. Walker, Darolyn, Canada, 4:32.65; 4. MACDONALD, Maddy, Canada, 4:33.11; 5. Melsop, Caroline, New Zealand, 4:33.44; 6. Therien, Brittany, Canada, 4:33.76; 7. Soderberg, Alana, Canada, 4:33.81; 8. McQueen, Riley, Canada, 4:34.60; 9. Roske, Alycia, Canada, 4:34.76; 10. Mitic, Laura, Canada, 4:34.84; 11. Shaw, Angela, Canada, 4:37.59; 12. Charlesworth, Anica, Canada, 4:41.01; 13. Moran, Deirdre, Canada, 4:42.71; 14. Anderson, Evelyn, Canada, 4:45.48; 15. Dixon, Kate, Canada, 4:47.65; 16. Roskelley, Courtney, Canada, 4:56.28.

Women 1500 Meter Run INT.:

1. Ramos, Beverly, Puerto Rico, 4:14.11; 2. Newbould, Hannah, New Zealand, 4:14.54; 3. Koons, Frances, United States, 4:16.29; 4. Maludzinswki, Laura, Canada, 4:19.07; 5. Hinther, Ashley, Canada, 4:19.65; 6. Tchanz, Julia, Canada, 4:22.30; 7. Green, Rebekah, New Zealand, 4:23.88; 8. Wyman, Jillian, Canada, 4:25.50; 9. Wodak, Natasha, Canada, 4:26.01; 10. Nagel, Laura, New Zealand, 4:27.91; 11. MACGREGOR, Meredith, Canada, 4:28.07; 12. Souter, Jodi, Canada, 4:28.28; –. Aguilera, Lisa, United States, DNF.

Women 100 Meter Hurdles INT.: (w: 1.0) 1. Whyte, Angela, Canada, 13.11; 2. Zelinka, Jessica, Canada, 13.30. 3. Gordon, Christie, Canada, 13.71; 4. Dugas, Marie-Eve, Canada, 13.75; 5. Stoffman, Zaria, Canada, 14.69. Women 400 Meter Hurdles NATIONAL: 1. Dobranowski, Alicia, Canada, 1:00.72; 2. Pearse, Anastasia, Canada, 1:02.01; 3. Boss, Traci, Canada, 1:02.84.

Women Pole Vault INT.:

1. Owen, Melinda, United States, 4.25m; 2. Saxer, Mary, United States, 4.15m; 3. Robson, Victoria, Canada, 4.00m; 4. Carriere, Dayna, Canada, 3.85m; 5. Maatan, Dayna, Canada, 3.70m; –. Charlesworth, Kerry, New Zealand, NH; –. Irvine, Stacey, Canada, NH; –. Vause, Leah, Canada, NH.

Women Long Jump NATIONAL:

1. Cobb, Aleisha, Canada, 5.36m, w:-1.9; 2. Donner, Claire, Canada, 4.64m, w:-3.7.

Women Javelin Throw NATIONAL: 1. Zelinka, Deanna, Canada, 48.48m; 2. MACAULEY, Laura, Canada, 42.55m; 3. Zelinka, Jessica, Canada, 37.01m; 4. Merritt, Olivia, Canada, 36.71m.

Men 100 Meter Run INT. Preliminaries:

1. Leblanc, Michael, Canada, 10.41q, w:1.5; 2. Vaughan, Jarid, Canada, 10.42q, w:1.5; 3. Barnett, Bryan, Canada, 10.50q, w:1.5; 4. Rinholm, Graeme, Canada, 10.62q, w:1.5; 5. Thompson, Kevin, Jamaica, 10.72q, w:1.5; 6. Millar, Joseph, New Zealand, 10.74q, w:1.5; 7. Durant, Adrian, US Virgin Island, 10.92q, w:1.5.

Men 100 Meter Run INT. Finals:

(w: NWI) 1. Barnett, Bryan, Canada, 10.40; 2. Leblanc, Michael, Canada, 10.44; 3. Vaughan, Jarid, Canada, 10.49; 4. Rinholm, Graeme, Canada, 10.72; 5. Thompson, Kevin, Jamaica, 10.77; 6. Millar, Joseph, New Zealand, 10.85; 7. Durant, Adrian, US Virgin Island, 10.85.

Men 200 Meter Run DEVELOPMENT:

(w: 2.1) 1. Barnett, Bryan, Canada, 20.85; 2. Millar, Joseph, New Zealand, 21.63; 3. Thompson, Kevin, Jamaica, 21.67; 4. Toki, Tama, New Zealand, 21.96; 5. Boss, Andrew, Canada, 22.00.

Men 400 Meter Run NATIONAL:

1. Wickes, Frazer, New Zealand, 48.63; 2. Unruh, Tyson, Canada, 48.90; 3. Restall, Brendon, Canada, 49.04; 4. Bellam, Glen, New Zealand, 49.54; 5. Vaartnou, Nick, Canada, 50.51; 6. Lawson, Peter, Canada, 50.97.

Men 400 Meter Run INT.:

1. Courtney, Michael, United States, 46.19; 2. Lewis, Marvin, Liberia, 46.86; 3. Vadeboncoeur, Nathan, Canada, 47.07; 4. Sumani, Hafeez, Canada, 48.40; 5. Lim, Kevin, Canada, 48.42; 6. Burch, Scott, New Zealand, 48.45; 7. Jordan, Alex, New Zealand, 48.49.

Men 800 Meter Run INT.:

1. Ellerton, Andrew, Canada, 1:47.18; 2. Sappleton, Aldwyn, Jamaica, 1:47.44; 3. Ferguson, Quin, Canada, 1:47.73; 4. Novak, Rob, United States, 1:47.94; 5. Ostapowich, Jaden, Canada, 1:48.09; 6. Smith, Kyle, Canada, 1:48.63; 7. Tully, Sean, United States, 1:49.15; 8. Bascomb, Deon, United States, 1:51.41; –. Sherar, Matt, United States, DNF.

Men 800 Meter Run DEVELOPMENT:

1. Riva, Thomas, Canada, 1:53.52; 2. Pratt, John, Canada, 1:54.09; 3. Russell, Ryan, Canada, 1:54.37; 4. Toet, Travis, Canada, 1:55.29; 5. Wasylyshun, Adam, Canada, 1:56.25; 6. Golf Myers, Jonas, Canada, 1:58.37; 7. Caroll, Rory, Canada, 1:58.65; –. Robertson, Karl, Canada, DNF.

Men 800 Meter Run NATIONAL:

1. Harris, Geoff, Canada, 1:49.63; 2. Saizew, Mike, Canada, 1:49.68; 3. Petrocci, Matthew, United States, 1:50.75; 4. Tome, Mitch, Canada, 1:51.98; 5. Nicol, Scott, Canada, 1:54.40; –. Byron, Justin, US Virgin Island, DNF.

Men 1500 Meter Run NATIONAL:

1. Shiffbauer, Matt, United States, 3:54.58; 2. Boland, Joseph, Canada, 3:54.79; 3. Irvine, Kyle, Canada, 3:58.52; 4. Ropelt, Brian, Canada, 3:59.16; 5. Barnes, James, Canada, 3:59.48; 6. Langat, Willy, Canada, 4:01.05; 7. Dorosz, Sam, Canada, 4:04.28; 8. Vincent, Sam, Canada, 4:05.13; 9. Oxland, Doug, Canada, 4:05.52; 10. Redpath, Jason, Canada, 4:06.03; 11. Cloutier, Josh, Canada, 4:06.90; 12. Secco, Scott, Canada, 4:08.38.

Men 1500 Meter Run INT.:

1. Martinson, Geoff, Canada, 3:40.96; 2. Castle, Daniel, United States, 3:42.09; 3. Hulse, Matthew, Canada, 3:42.63; 4. Levins, Cameron, Canada, 3:43.20; 5. Kellar, Adam, Canada, 3:44.87; 6. Childs, Cliff, Canada, 3:46.50; 7. Poulin-Cadovious, James, Canada, 3:46.56; 8. Corrigan, Peter, Canada, 3:46.83; 9. Colle, Stephane, Canada, 3:47.06; 10. Burke, Logan, Canada, 3:47.12; 11. Finn, Ryan, Canada, 3:47.32; 12. Carr, Paul, Canada, 3:52.53; –.

Currie, Adam, Canada, DNF; –. Wieczorek, Mark, United States, DNF.

Men 1 Mile Run MASTERS:

1. Cantwell, Walter, Canada, 4:55.77; 2. Ballester, Piere, Canada, 5:20.65.

Men 400 Meter Hurdles NATIONAL:

1. Kunkel, Adam, Canada, 50.95; 2. Joseph, Nigel, Canada, 51.62; 3. Woytkowiak, Paul, Canada, 52.79; 4. Leitch, Scott, Canada, 53.12; 5. Quevedo, Camilo, Guatemala, 54.65.

Men Pole Vault NATIONAL:

1. Petrucha, Taylor, Canada, 4.90m; 2. McKay, David, Canada, 4.80m; –. Filipck, Nathan, Canada, NH; –. Biskupiak, Bobby, United States, NH.

Men Long Jump NATIONAL:

1. Chenery, Mark, Canada, 6.49m, w:-2.7.

Men Shot Put INT.:

1. Armstrong, Dylan, Canada, 20.52m; 2. Winger, Russ, United States, 19.53m; 3. Nikfar, Amin, IRA, 19.41m; 4. Rodhe, Justin, Canada, 17.92m; 5. Walsh, Tom, New Zealand, 16.96m; 6. Ford, Zack, Canada, 15.82m.

Men Javelin Throw NATIONAL:

1. Furey, Sean, United States, 75.23m; 2. Moss, Curtis, Canada, 71.90m; 3.

Burke, Adam, United States, 71.53m; 4. White, Corey, United States, 70.83m.

Professional Women – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/multi/DesertHalf2010ProF.html

Overall – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/multi/DesertHalf2010.html

Relay Teams – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/multi/DesertHalf2010Relay.html

Sprint – http://raceheadquarters.com/results/2010/multi/CowichanChallenge2010Sprint.html

Short course – http://www.racedaytiming.ca/gb004short2010.html

© Copyright – 2010 – Christopher Kelsall

Even though Diane Cummins’s 800m performance at the Victoria International Track Classic was electric, no one can blame her for being a little conflicted.

Cummins won the 800m event, a race she chose to compete in despite her concentrating on the 1500m distance. Not only did she win but she also ran the fastest time in Canada this year, leading Alice Schmidt of the US with her 2:03.02 and new Victorian Lemlem Ogbasilassie, who also ran a personal best time of 2:03.53. Commonwealth qualification standard is 2:01.92.

After competing for Canada internationally for more than ten years, Cummins missed the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with injury-plagued performances that just didn’t allow her to make standard. In 2009 Athletics Canada posthumously dropped her for being too old, cutting off her funding. She is 36-years of age and will be 38 for the 2012 London Olympics.

“I was told by Athletics Canada that I was too old,” Cummins said. “You cannot determine the end of my career; I will be the one to decide that.”

Adding further to the confliction was her passing up the opportunity to go to South Africa to watch the 2010 World Cup of Soccer semi-final match between Spain and Germany. She chose to stay in Canada and race in front of her hometown fans. Cummins who is a Victoria crowd favourite once again endeared herself to the audience by telling them during her post-race, track-side interview that she chose to compete at the Victoria International Track Classic over watching the 2010 World Cup match live, to a loud and appreciative cheer.

“I so much wanted to be in South Africa and experience what sport can do to lift a country,” said Cummins.

She currently holds the Canadian 800m record with her 1:58.39, which she ran in 2001. She has run at least 16 sub-2:00 800m races while representing Canada.

On Monday, Cummins ran to within 1 second of the required qualifying time in the 1500m distance at the Harry Jeromemeet in Vancouver.

Adding to the irony Cummins said, “when I was focusing on the 800, I ran a fast 400 and it was suggested I concentrate on that distance, now that I have been concentrating on 1500 I ran a good 800. “

Providing she finishes top-4 at the Canadian Championships, later this month in Toronto, Cummins is unexpectedly off to the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games in October to represent Canada in the 800m distance. What’s old is new again.

In other events, Jessica Zelinka of Calgary and 2008 Beijing 5th place finisher in the Heptathlon finished second to Angela Whyte in the 100m hurdles in 13.30. Whyte, consistently one of Canada’s top hurdlers and a two-time Olympian won the event in 13.11.

Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, a top-five Beijing athlete has medal aspirations for Delhi this fall, he won the men’s shot put last night with a heave of 20.52 metres. World No. 8 Russ Winger of the U.S. was second at 19.53 metres and Amin Nikfar, a Cal Berkeley NCAA alumni and 2008 Beijing Olympian for Iran, was third at 19.41.

In the 1500m Men’s International, former University of Victoria Vike, Geoff Martinson nearly qualified for Delhi – missing the standard by 1 second with his 3:40.92. In that same race there were several personal bests including Comox Valley’s Cameron Levins’ 3:43.20 who red-shirted for NCAA Division 1, Southern Utah University this year placing 4th to 2nd place finisher Daniel Castle of the US with his 3:42.09 and Canadian Matthew Hulse in 3rd with his time of 3:42.63.

Full results.

Photo credit: Arnold Lim Photography