Gillis off to Beijing

Courtesy of The Chronicle-Herald

July 16, 2008 - Eric Gillis will be heading to Beijing next month after all. Athletics Canada announced Tuesday that Gillis, a 10,000-metre runner from Antigonish and former all-Canadian and cross-country champion at St. Francis Xavier, has been added to the Olympic Games roster.

Gillis, now living and training in Guelph, Ont., was left off the original list of 29 athletes selected to the Olympic team for track and field when the announcement was made last week. He subsequently appealed.

"I’m excited to have the opportunity to represent my country at the Olympics," he said in an e-mail from Europe, where he is competing this week. "I take great honour in it and am putting everything into being in top form for Aug 17.

"The past while has been trying with all I’ve been dealing with but now I have a clear path and I intend to make the most of it."

According to a press release, the National Team Committee reconsidered its original decision as new elements were presented during the appeal process.

Martin Goulet, Athletics Canada’s chief high performance officer, supported the decision.

"The National Team Committee has a high level of confidence in Eric’s program and coaching," Goulet said in the release. "This, combined with the fact that the appeal brought to light some grey zones in Athletics Canada’s Olympic selection criteria, led us to rule in favour of the athlete."

Gillis, 28, achieved the Olympic ‘B’ standard — the minimum requirement to enter the Games — with a 28:07.19 at a meet in California in May. The ‘B’ standard is 28:10.

He defended his Canadian 10,000 championship in June in Toronto in 29:28.11. He won by nearly a minute.

He believed he had done all he needed to make the Canadian team and continued to train aggressively through the Canadian trials in Windsor, Ont., earlier this month.