Dylan Wykes - Rotterdam Marathon
Ottawa – For the first time since 1996 Canada is sending three male marathoners to the Olympic Games. Reid Coolsaet of Hamilton, Ont., Eric Gillis of Antigonish, N.S., and Dylan Wykes of Kingston, Ont., all dipped below Athletics Canada’s Olympic marathon standard of 2:11:29 before the qualifying deadline of April 22.
These three talented athletes have displayed the tenacity and necessary focus to succeed in the most gruelling event at the Olympic Games,” said Alex Gardiner, Athletics Canada Head Coach. “Their support teams; the coaches, scientists, medical team and family and friends are all in. This is what it takes to compete with the best in the world. We believe these guys will be ready in London to perform at their highest level.”
Eric Gillis, member of the 2008 Olympic Games team in the 10,000-metres, is excited for what lies ahead, “I’ll be ready for London on August 12! (date of the marathon event at the Olympic Games). Beijing prepared me for what to expect, now is my opportunity to put what I’ve learned into practice. I definitely feel like the marathon is my best event and offers me the best chance to excel on the world stage. With room to improve, a healthy build-up, and with great coaching and training partners the sky’s the limit in London.”
Skateboarder turned marathoner Reid Coolsaet is ready to take on the world after spending six weeks training with the world’s best distance runners in Kenya, “It’s great that we’ll have three runners representing Canada in at the Olympic Games in the marathon. I’m really looking forward to the coming months to maximize my training and preparation for the Games. They only come around once every four years; I want to ensure I get the most out of my body and take calculated risks to get the best finish possible.”
Dylan Wykes made the standard at the eleventh hour; he’s now looking forward to turning his full attention to being prepared for London and getting some altitude training in. “Representing Canada at the Olympic Games is a dream come true. It’s a really satisfying reward for years and years of hard work. I think the marathon in London is going to be unlike any past Olympic marathons. I expect it to be run hard from the start without many tactics being employed by the front pack.” Wykes adds, “My goal is going to be to run a smart race and try to pick up the pieces in the latter stages. I haven’t sat down with my coach (Richard Lee) and set out actual place or time goals. Top 15 has a nice ring to it, Top 10 even more so. I want to aim high.”
The marathon is well known as a grueling event, and neither of Coolsaet, Gillis or Wykes had an easy road to qualify. Reid Coolsaet qualified at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon running 2:10:55 in less than ideal windy conditions; he also had to take an unscheduled bathroom break near the 30km mark. Eric Gillis ran under the standard at the same event, with only a few hundred metres to go in the race he dug deep and gave it one last kick crossing the finish line with only one second to spare. Wykes made the standard on April 15, exactly one week from the qualifying deadline, at the Rotterdam Marathon in Amsterdam after a failed attempt at an event in Japan in early March. In Japan Wykes had to abandon the race 26 kilometres in due to GI issues. Everything went right for him in Amsterdam where he recorded the second fastest marathon time in Canadian history.
In 1996 Canada was represented in the male marathon by Bruce Deacon, Peter Fonseca and Carey Nelson. The trios’ top finisher was Peter Fonseca who placed 21st overall in a time of 2:17:28.
The complete athletics team won’t be known until the completion of the Track & Field Trials June 27 – 30 in Calgary, Alta.
Olympic Games marathon preparation race schedule
Eric Gillis
Canadian Half Marathon Championships April 29 Montreal, QC
Ottawa 10K May 26 Ottawa, ON
Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon June 24 Vancouver, BC
Reid Coolsaet
Ottawa 10K May 26 Ottawa, ON
Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon June 24 Vancouver, BC
Dylan Wykes
Dylan has not yet confirmed his race schedule.
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