Coolsaet and Gillis hit qualifiers

Olympic Marathon Qualifiers

Yesterday at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon both Reid Coolsaet of Hamilton, Ont., and Eric Gillis of Antigonish, N.S., dipped below Athletics Canada’s marathon qualification standard of 2:11:29 for the 2012 Olympic Games. 

Coolsaet finished third overall in 2:10:55 and Gillis crossed the line in fourth in 2:11:28; a personal best for both runners.  After the race Gillis said to the Canadian Press, “I can’t believe it was by a second.  A marathon and one second?  I could’ve just as easily been one second over.  I feel really, really lucky to get that standard.”  Coolsaet and Gillis’ performances will ensure Canadian representation in the marathon at the Olympic Games for the first time since Bruce Deacon at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Coolsaet made a valiant effort at gunning down the Canadian record in windy and rainy conditions just missing it by 46 seconds.  The record of 2:10:09 was set in 1975 by Jerome Drayton.  “I’m really happy to have run a PB in these conditions, I was fortunate enough to have a good pack that I was able to use to block the wind and that really helped me for the first 35-36 kilometres,” said Coolsaet to CP.