Jessica Zelinka closes in on Olympic berth to open Canadian track and field championships

Thursday, July 03, 2008

WINDSOR, Ontario – Jessica Zelinka of Calgary is closer to her first Olympic nomination after grabbing the lead on the opening day of competition in the heptathlon Thursday at the Canadian track and field championships.

Zelinka totalled 3,742 points after four events, just 35 points off her first day score when she broke the Canadian record last year.  She was the top point-getter Thursday in the 100 hurdles, shotput and 200 metres and second in the high jump.  She needs a top-four finish to punch in her ticket for Beijing.

"It's all about being consistent and I'm close to that mark again, so it's good," said Zelinka, who missed the world championships last year due to injury. "I seriously didn't come out here counting points and to come that close to my personal best is really promising for Friday."

Jillian Drouin of Sarnia, Ont., is second at 3,555 and Susan Coltman of Peterborough, Ont., is third at 3,439.

Jamie Adjetey-Nelson of Windsor, also chasing an Olympic spot, leads at the halfway point in the decathlon with 4,280 points.  Massimo Bertocchi of Toronto is second at 4,145 and Craig Slaunwhite of Terrance Bay, N.S., is third at 3,901.  Adjetey-Nelson opened the competition with the top scores in the 100 sprint and long jump.  Shotput, high jump and the 400 were the other events contested.

In the Paralympic races, wheelchair racers  Ilana Duff of Saskatoon, Colin Mathieson of Winnipeg and Josh Cassidy of Oakville, Ont., were all double winners.  They were among the 26 track and field athletes nominated to the Paralympic Games team by Athletics Canada on Wednesday.

Competition continues through to Sunday.

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