Moncton's Geneviève Lalonde makes Canadian Olympic team
Lalonde placed third in the 3000m steeplechase at Canadian Olympic trials in Edmonton
Moncton's Geneviève Lalonde was named to the Canadian Olympic team Monday.
The announcement came after Lalonde took third place Saturday in the 3000-metres steeplechase at the Olympic trials in Edmonton.
Canada's track and field team was selected Monday.
"It's just incredible to realize that all that hard work, that determination, and those dreams can actually come true.
"Standing up there, part of a great team. I'm really looking forward to going to Rio and competing against the world's best."
Lalonde was expected to get a place on the team. She broke the Canadian record this season in the 3,000-metres steeplechase and was heading to Edmonton ranked No. 1 in the country.
The track and field events begin on Aug. 12, the second Friday of Rio 2016, and run until closing ceremony day on Aug. 21.
Repping <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamCanada?src=hash">#TeamCanada</a> at the Olympics this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadtoRio?src=hash">#RoadtoRio</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dreams?src=hash">#Dreams</a> <a href="https://t.co/44m9jWI8k3">pic.twitter.com/44m9jWI8k3</a>
—@lalongen"We're pretty pumped," said Steve LeBlanc, director of high performance for Athletics New Brunswick of hearing the news. "Given the level that she's been performing at I don't want to say it was a given but certainly it's not a surprise to us that she'll be going to Rio."
She's proven, certainly this season and in the years leading up to this, that she was that quality of athlete."
Official word
LeBlanc told Shift New Brunswick it was nice to get the "official thumbs up" that Lalonde was part of the Olympic team.
He described her race in Edmonton as solid. "She knew what she had to do, she knew she had to be up there in the front of the pack and leading the way and that's what she did."
"Coming down off the final couple of barriers a couple of other women who had to run with some desperation to try to meet their dream of going to Rio, they certainly came through with huge performances for them."
LeBlanc said Lalonde ran a smart race.
It's official <a href="https://twitter.com/lalongen">@lalongen</a> is going to Rio Olympics!!!!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bestTweet?src=hash">#bestTweet</a> ever!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreANB?src=hash">#WeAreANB</a> Bravo Gen lalonde sera a Rio!!!
—@AthNBTeam NB results
As for the other Team New Brunswick members, LeBlanc said they did well. He added the goal was to get national exposure, more experience and get past the first qualifying rounds.
"We had a big goal of getting people into finals, into the top eight and we had several people make it to finals in both field events and track events and into those finals."
Team NB will return home with four medals from the event. "Certainly Gen's was a huge one and Cristel Robichaud actually managed to win three medals in her events."
LeBlanc said they are still waiting to hear if Shane Dobson of Campbellton will be named to the Paralympic team.
As for Lalonde, LeBlanc said she will join a camp to help her get conditioned for Rio. Other than that, he adds, she will continue on the training plan she and her coach set out.
"Basically you come in there with a game plan already and you just follow through on that plan and you just make those final adjustments.
"I'm sure her plan incorporated the idea that she would be going to this camp and getting ready. Everything was aimed towards Rio."