CSR (VanderVliet Fourth In Hammer Throw at Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR JULY 5, 2008

VANDERVLIET FOURTH IN HAMMER AT CANADIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS

WINDSOR, ON -- Megann VanderVliet, a 2007 Calvin College graduate, took fourth in the hammer throw at the Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials Saturday afternoon at the University of Windsor.

A native of Oakville, Ontario, VanderVliet took fourth with a throw of 190-11. VanderVliet has only been participating in the hammer throw one full year since relocating to Kamloops, British Columbia, where she is training under former Soviet Union Olympian Dr. Anatoly Bondurchuk.

In order to qualify for the Olympics in an event, Canadian athletes must not only finish in the top three at the trials, but also must meet an Olympic "A" standard. In addition to just missing the three, VanderVliet was nearly 37 feet of the Olympic "A" standard of 228-0 in the hammer throw.

The top finisher in Saturday's hammer throw competition met the "A" standard with Sultana Frizell winning with a throw of 232-9. The next two competitors did not meet the "A" standard however as Jennifer Joyce was second (225-6) and Crystal Smith third (210-7).

VanderVliet is also scheduled to compete in the discus competition at the Canadian Trials where she is seeded fourth.

A four-time NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field All-American at Calvin, doing so three times in the shot put and once in the discus. VanderVliet is making her first-ever appearance at the Canadian Olympic Trials.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Jul 5 18:43:44 2008