Six Speed River Athletes will be in action tomorrow at the Canadian 10k Road Championships in Toronto. Below is an article on the race by Lori Ewing of the Canadian Press joining Coolsaet and Milne will be Eric Gillis, Cleve Thorson, Scott Arnald and Steve Koziarski.
Coming on the heels of a season focused on the marathon, Saturday's Canadian 10K National Road Race Championships is going to feel like an all-out sprint for Reid Coolsaet.
The distance runner from Guelph, Ont., who won the Canadian title in his marathon debut earlier this year, will be among a strong field gunning for the 10-kilometre title at the Toronto Zoo.
"I definitely feel like my endurance and strength is better, but I'm definitely lacking some foot speed," Coolsaet said.
Coolsaet, Canada's top 5-and 10,000-metre runner on the track for the past few years, moved up to the marathon last season, overcoming a broken foot suffered in the fall to quickly make a name for himself over the gruelling 42.195-kilometre distance.
His Canadian title earned him a spot at the world championships in Berlin in August, where he went in ranked No. 85 out of a field of 91, but crossed the finish line 25th. He's switching gears once again to focus on the 5-and 10,000 metres, with his eye on the Commonwealth Games next October in New Delhi, India.
"In October, the daily high is like 31 degrees, and it's pretty polluted in New Delhi, so I definitely don't want to run a marathon there," Coolsaet said. "I'll go back to the 5-and 10,000, and then in 2011 and 2012, I'll concentrate on the marathon again." Coolsaet, 30, said he considers himself a favourite to finish second Saturday - top spot should go to Simon Bairu, he said.
The Regina runner is the defending 10K road race champion and also won it in 2006. "I think Simon and I are fairly equal over 10K, his best time and my best time are only six seconds apart, but he trained for it all summer whereas I focused on the marathon," Coolsaet said.
Other favourites among the field include Ryan McKenzie of Windsor, Ont., the 2007 Canadian 1,500-metre champion, Taylor Milne of Guelph, Ont., who was second in the Canadian 10K championships two years ago, and Dylan Wykes of Kingston, Ont., the 2007 10K champion and a marathon teammate of Coolsaet at the world championships.
Malindi Elmore of Calgary is among the favourites in the women's field. Emore is the reigning Canadian 1,500-metre champion.
The race is being held in conjunction with the Oasis Zoo Run and includes the Timex National Road Race Series Finale.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Chris Winter and Dana Buchanan Join Speed River
The Speed River Track and Field Club is thrilled to announce the additions of Chris Winter and Dana Buchanan, both recent graduates of the University of Oregon. The two steeplechasers will bolster Speed River’s growing reputation as one of North America’s strongest distance training groups.
Winter, a native of West Vancouver, is a two-time NCAA finalist in the 3000 metre steeplechase. He was ranked fourth in Canada this year with a lifetime best of 8 minutes 42.03 seconds. A former World Youth Bronze Medalist, Winter has represented Canada numerous times internationally. His addition gives the Speed River group four of the top five male steeplechasers in the country.
Buchanan, was runner-up at this year’s Canadian Championships. She boasts impressive range from 800 metres to cross country. The former Canadian Junior Champion at over the former distance, Buchanan was an All-American at Oregon and in 2008 qualified to represent Canada at the World Cross Country Championships. The Beachburg, Ontario native, has a lifetime best in the steeplechase of 10 minutes 28.53 seconds, which is the 13th best in Canadian history. Buchanan is currently in Beirut, Lebanon preparing for the Francophone Games where she will be running the steeplechase Sunday evening.
Speed River Head Coach Dave Scott-Thomas commented on the team’s new additions, “I think in addition to the physical talent that (Chris and Dana) bring, we have people who get it. They are really good team players, who have really good hearts and are motivated Canadians, who are ready to lay it down.”
Winter is equally excited about his arrival, “the team has welcomed me with open arms. The training so far has been hard but I am adapting well. I am really excited to be here and am looking forward to what the group can create.”
Scott-Thomas couldn’t contain his excitement when it comes to the future of the group adding ”it is unbelievable, aside from what I think we will do statistically with the steeplechase and other events in the next couple of year, it is just a fantastic group of people to work with.”
Winter, a native of West Vancouver, is a two-time NCAA finalist in the 3000 metre steeplechase. He was ranked fourth in Canada this year with a lifetime best of 8 minutes 42.03 seconds. A former World Youth Bronze Medalist, Winter has represented Canada numerous times internationally. His addition gives the Speed River group four of the top five male steeplechasers in the country.
Buchanan, was runner-up at this year’s Canadian Championships. She boasts impressive range from 800 metres to cross country. The former Canadian Junior Champion at over the former distance, Buchanan was an All-American at Oregon and in 2008 qualified to represent Canada at the World Cross Country Championships. The Beachburg, Ontario native, has a lifetime best in the steeplechase of 10 minutes 28.53 seconds, which is the 13th best in Canadian history. Buchanan is currently in Beirut, Lebanon preparing for the Francophone Games where she will be running the steeplechase Sunday evening.
Speed River Head Coach Dave Scott-Thomas commented on the team’s new additions, “I think in addition to the physical talent that (Chris and Dana) bring, we have people who get it. They are really good team players, who have really good hearts and are motivated Canadians, who are ready to lay it down.”
Winter is equally excited about his arrival, “the team has welcomed me with open arms. The training so far has been hard but I am adapting well. I am really excited to be here and am looking forward to what the group can create.”
Scott-Thomas couldn’t contain his excitement when it comes to the future of the group adding ”it is unbelievable, aside from what I think we will do statistically with the steeplechase and other events in the next couple of year, it is just a fantastic group of people to work with.”
Four Speed River Athletes Set To Compete At Francophone Games
Four Speed River athletes will be competing at the Francophone Games starting Thursday in Beirut, Lebanon.
The Games which are held quadrennially involve countries with large french speaking populations or deep french roots. There will be over 3,000 athletes and artists competing in sports such as Athletics, Wrestling and Soccer as well as cultural competitions in Dance, Sculpture and Singing.
The Speed River group will be represented by Owen Willems in the men’s discus which will take place Thursday afternoon; Tim Konoval in the men’s 1500 metres which will have qualifying heats on Thursday and the final on Friday; and a pair of steeplechasers, Alex Genest, who will contest the men’s steeplechase Saturday evening and Speed River newcomer Dana Buchanan who will contest the women’s steeplechase Sunday evening.
Results will be available here.
The Games which are held quadrennially involve countries with large french speaking populations or deep french roots. There will be over 3,000 athletes and artists competing in sports such as Athletics, Wrestling and Soccer as well as cultural competitions in Dance, Sculpture and Singing.
The Speed River group will be represented by Owen Willems in the men’s discus which will take place Thursday afternoon; Tim Konoval in the men’s 1500 metres which will have qualifying heats on Thursday and the final on Friday; and a pair of steeplechasers, Alex Genest, who will contest the men’s steeplechase Saturday evening and Speed River newcomer Dana Buchanan who will contest the women’s steeplechase Sunday evening.
Results will be available here.
Friday, September 18, 2009
New Balance Vic Matthews Open Preview
The old Gryphon Open cross country meet will undergo a facelift this year and has been transformed into a cross country carnival. With 12 races ranging in distance from 1 kilometre to 7.5 kilometres and ranging in age from four to ninety, there will be something for everyone. Another major change is a new name, the meet is now called the New Balance Vic Matthews Open in honour of the former University of Guelph Hall of Fame coach who passed away in 2004.
The action starts at 9:30 am with the Falling Leaves Community 4 kilometre race followed by the Falling Leaves Community 7.5 kilometre race at 10:00 am. A free non-competitive kids race will follow at 11:00 am, with the main events of the day the Vic Matthews races set to be run at 11:20 am for the women’s 4 km race and 12:00 pm for men’s 7.5 km race. After the Vic Matthews races will be a series of Minor Track races put on in association with AGSI Flyers.
Expected to compete in the Vic Matthews women’s race are last year’s CIS (Canadian University) Rookie of The Year Tamara Jewett from Toronto, All-Canadians Jess Vanhie and Lydia Frost from the hometown Gryphons and high school star Emily Dreidger from the local Speed River club. On the men’s side last year’s CIS Champion Matt Brunsting will kick off his final season at home, he will be joined on a strong Gryphon team by last year’s CIS runner-up Kyle Boorsma and last year’s Ontario University Rookie of The Year Rob Jackson. Looking to dethrone the Gryphons will be a powerful alumni team led by Reid Coolsaet , who will be in his first action since competing at last month’s World Track and Field Championships in Berlin. Coolsaet will be joined by seven fellow former All-Canadians on an outstanding University of Guelph Alumni team.
Strong university teams from Windsor, Waterloo, York and Toronto will all be looking to unseat the defending National Champion Gryphons on their home turf.
The races will be held on the same course as the AGSI Canadian Cross Country Championships, which is on the north side of the University of Guelph Arboretum by the RJ Hilton Centre.
The action starts at 9:30 am with the Falling Leaves Community 4 kilometre race followed by the Falling Leaves Community 7.5 kilometre race at 10:00 am. A free non-competitive kids race will follow at 11:00 am, with the main events of the day the Vic Matthews races set to be run at 11:20 am for the women’s 4 km race and 12:00 pm for men’s 7.5 km race. After the Vic Matthews races will be a series of Minor Track races put on in association with AGSI Flyers.
Expected to compete in the Vic Matthews women’s race are last year’s CIS (Canadian University) Rookie of The Year Tamara Jewett from Toronto, All-Canadians Jess Vanhie and Lydia Frost from the hometown Gryphons and high school star Emily Dreidger from the local Speed River club. On the men’s side last year’s CIS Champion Matt Brunsting will kick off his final season at home, he will be joined on a strong Gryphon team by last year’s CIS runner-up Kyle Boorsma and last year’s Ontario University Rookie of The Year Rob Jackson. Looking to dethrone the Gryphons will be a powerful alumni team led by Reid Coolsaet , who will be in his first action since competing at last month’s World Track and Field Championships in Berlin. Coolsaet will be joined by seven fellow former All-Canadians on an outstanding University of Guelph Alumni team.
Strong university teams from Windsor, Waterloo, York and Toronto will all be looking to unseat the defending National Champion Gryphons on their home turf.
The races will be held on the same course as the AGSI Canadian Cross Country Championships, which is on the north side of the University of Guelph Arboretum by the RJ Hilton Centre.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Brunsting Strikes Gold
Speed River's Matt Brunsting added a gold medal in the men's 3000 metre steeplechase to the bronze he captured in the 5000 metres at the Canada Summer Games in Charlottetown, PEI. Brunsting battled windy conditions throughout the race biding his time in the pack for most of the race before pulling away in the final kilometre for a 5 second victory.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Coolsaet Finishes 25th At World Championships
Running a personal best in a world championships marathon is a lot to expect, but Reid Coolsaet did it when he finished 25th in Saturday's race at the world track and field championships in Berlin.
The Hamilton native's time of 2:16:53 was marginally better than his debut marathon in Ottawa on May 24th (2:17:09), and it was accomplished during the midday heat.
Most city marathons start early in the morning to ensure cooler temperatures (and to minimize traffic tie-ups), but the Berlin 2009 organizers chose to start this event at 11:45 a.m. local time — very considerate for journalists who don't like to get out of bed, but dangerous for the runners.
Medics were kept busy assisting those who had succumbed to the heat. It was 18 C at the start, but temperatures climbed into the mid-20's very quickly. Twenty-one of the 91 starters failed to finish.
Coolsaet ran most of the way with teammate Dylan Wykes who wound up in 33rd place in a time of 2:18:00. He was satisfied with his performance, though he had a faster time at the back of his mind.
"It went pretty well but it got really hot really fast after 30 kilometres," Coolsaet said. "I think the heat took its toll and my legs took a pounding.
"We really helped each other. [Dylan] made a move at halfway and I hesitated a little bit, and then decided to go with him. Maybe I should have waited a little longer but it was good. Everybody was slowing down in the last 10 km. Only a few people caught up to me. I am pretty sure everybody slowed down. It was pretty hot."
Coolsaet missed the 2008 Olympics after injuring his sciatic nerve. He slipped on ice at a high altitude training camp in Albuquerque, N.M., two years ago.
The injury lingered and cost him the better part of a year. But he chose to run the Ottawa marathon which doubled as the Canadian marathon championship. That qualified him for the Canadian team. He realizes now that the gap between the two marathons was short.
"Ninety days is not ideal," he said. "I would have liked two more months but under the circumstances I couldn't do anything else. At the start of the year I couldn't even walk and to be at the world championships eight months later, well I am pretty happy with that."
The marathoners had attended the Canadian team's pre-world championship training camp.
Wykes ran a personal best of 2:15:16 last year at the Rotterdam marathon and improved his PB in the 10,000 metres with 28:58.49 at a meet in California in April. This marathon, he believes, was a progressive step.
"A great experience but it was hard," he declared. "This weather is not ideal; it got rough out there. Tough today. Reid and I were able to work together for 35 km, which was great. I tried to keep the head up.
"For me it's about the experience. At 26, it's my third marathon. It's definitely good experience. I mean, time? Just throw it out the window. It's about place. I just tried to hold on. I think maybe only five guys passed me in the last 10 km."
The Hamilton native's time of 2:16:53 was marginally better than his debut marathon in Ottawa on May 24th (2:17:09), and it was accomplished during the midday heat.
Most city marathons start early in the morning to ensure cooler temperatures (and to minimize traffic tie-ups), but the Berlin 2009 organizers chose to start this event at 11:45 a.m. local time — very considerate for journalists who don't like to get out of bed, but dangerous for the runners.
Medics were kept busy assisting those who had succumbed to the heat. It was 18 C at the start, but temperatures climbed into the mid-20's very quickly. Twenty-one of the 91 starters failed to finish.
Coolsaet ran most of the way with teammate Dylan Wykes who wound up in 33rd place in a time of 2:18:00. He was satisfied with his performance, though he had a faster time at the back of his mind.
"It went pretty well but it got really hot really fast after 30 kilometres," Coolsaet said. "I think the heat took its toll and my legs took a pounding.
"We really helped each other. [Dylan] made a move at halfway and I hesitated a little bit, and then decided to go with him. Maybe I should have waited a little longer but it was good. Everybody was slowing down in the last 10 km. Only a few people caught up to me. I am pretty sure everybody slowed down. It was pretty hot."
Coolsaet missed the 2008 Olympics after injuring his sciatic nerve. He slipped on ice at a high altitude training camp in Albuquerque, N.M., two years ago.
The injury lingered and cost him the better part of a year. But he chose to run the Ottawa marathon which doubled as the Canadian marathon championship. That qualified him for the Canadian team. He realizes now that the gap between the two marathons was short.
"Ninety days is not ideal," he said. "I would have liked two more months but under the circumstances I couldn't do anything else. At the start of the year I couldn't even walk and to be at the world championships eight months later, well I am pretty happy with that."
The marathoners had attended the Canadian team's pre-world championship training camp.
Wykes ran a personal best of 2:15:16 last year at the Rotterdam marathon and improved his PB in the 10,000 metres with 28:58.49 at a meet in California in April. This marathon, he believes, was a progressive step.
"A great experience but it was hard," he declared. "This weather is not ideal; it got rough out there. Tough today. Reid and I were able to work together for 35 km, which was great. I tried to keep the head up.
"For me it's about the experience. At 26, it's my third marathon. It's definitely good experience. I mean, time? Just throw it out the window. It's about place. I just tried to hold on. I think maybe only five guys passed me in the last 10 km."
Cliff and Brunsting Grab Bronze Medals At Canada Summer Games
Speed River's Rachel Cliff and Matt Brunsting grabbed bronze medals on day one of the track and field competition at the Canada Summer Games in Charlottetown, PEI. Cliff, competing for her home province of British Columbia, set a personal best of 16 minutes 59.79 seconds in winning the bronze in the women's 5000 metres. While Brunsting equalled her in the men's 5000 metres winning the bronze for Ontario in a lifetime best of 14 minutes 35.57.
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