Connaughton runs world’s fastest 100 metres of the young season

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Sports/2011-04-11/article-2416664/P.E.I.-runner-continues-torrid-pace/1

P.E.I. runner continues torrid pace

Published on April 11, 2011

Jared Connaughton

Connaughton runs world’s fastest 100 metres of the young season

AUSTIN, Tex. — Jared Connaughton of New Haven posted the world’s fastest 100-metre race time of the young 2011 track and field season Saturday at the Texas Relays meet.

Connaughton ran the invitational race in a wind-aided time of 10.04 seconds.

After falling earlier in the day in the 4x100 relay, where he suffered several scrapes and bruises, Connaughton collected himself to run away from the rest of the 100-metre field.

Monzavous Edwards was second in 10.10 and Carey LaCour was third in 10.16.

Among the other Canadians. Jarid Vaughn was seventh in 10.25 and Michael Leblanc was ninth in 10.34.

The current world record is 9.58, which was set in 2009 and Jamaican Usain Bolt.

The Canadian men’s 4x100-metre team did not finish their race but the men’s and women’s 4x400 teams both finished third.

Connaughton will travel with the Canadian team this week to Louisiana to run in the LSU Alumni Gold meet.

He will run in the the 4x100 relay and will be his 2011 in the 200 metres.

Connaughton opened the season earlier in the month with a winning time of 10.17 at the UTA Bobby Lane Invitational meet.

The Texas Relays is one of the largest track meets in the United States and attracts competitors from all around the world.

www.texassports.com/livestats/tex-relay

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Sports/Track-%26amp%3B-field/2011-04-03/article-2397010/Connaughton-starts-season-strong/1

Connaughton starts season strong

Jared Connaughton

Published on April 3, 2011

Arlington, Tex. — P.E.I.’s Jared Connaughton started the 2011 outdoor track season with an impressive victory at the prestigious UTA Bobby Lane Invitational Track and Field meet at UTA stadium.

Connaughton outclassed a field of more than 50 competitors with a win in 100 meters in a time of 10.17.

Next weekend, he will represent Canada in the 4 x 100 relay and 100 meters at the historic Texas Relays.

The Texas Relays is one of the largest track meets in the United States and attracts competitors from all around the world.

Island athletes named to Commonwealth Games team

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Sports/Track-%26amp%3B-field/2010-09-17/article-1772040/Island-athletes-named-to-Commonwealth-Games-team/1

Island athletes named to Commonwealth Games team

Jared Connaughton

Published on September 17th, 2010

Prince Edward Island is sending Canada’s fastest 200-metre sprinter and a co-captain of the women’s national field hockey team to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, Oct. 3 to 14.

Island athletes named to the team include New Haven sprinter Jared Connaughton and field hockey veteran Katie Baker of Argyle Shore.

Connaughton, 25, is the 2010 national champion in the 200 metres. At the 2009 world championships, he placed fifth in the 4x100-metre relay.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Connaughton made the semis in the 200 metres and finished sixth in the 4x100 metre relay. He also won a silver medal at the 2007 Pan Am Games in the 4x100m relay.

Baker, 26, is a midfielder and co-captain of the women’s national field hockey team.

She has been a member of the senior national team since 2006 and was on the junior national team from 2004 to 2005.

Baker has played for the Royal Antwerp hockey club in Belgium as well as Meralomas in Vancouver. She was honoured with a nomination to the 2009 Pan American Elite Team.

“I’ve had the opportunity to see Katie on the field and Jared on the track and they have both worked exceptionally hard to be able to represent Canada and P.E.I.,” said Team Canada Chef de Mission, Martha Deacon.

“Jared worked toward a best-ever performance at the 2010 Canadian track and field championships in Toronto, and for Katie to be a veteran of the field hockey program and to go play in India, where the sport is so big, is exceptional.

“They’re tremendous role models for the youth of P.E.I.”

Canada is sending a team of 400 athletes, coaches and support staff to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and has a goal of finishing top three in the medal count.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Sports/2010-08-06/article-1653834/More-glory-awaits-P.E.I.-sprinter/1

More glory awaits P.E.I. sprinter

Charles Reid

Diamond League and Commonwealth Games

are up next for Connaughton

The life of a professional sprinter is a gilded one. Just ask Jared Connaughton.

There is glory, such as his gold medal in 200 metres and silver in 100 metres men’s sprint at the recent 2010 Canadian track and field championships in Toronto (he's won the 200-metre national title twice in three years).

And then there’s money. He’s earned cash at meets for running well in the thousands of dollars.

There are not so glorious times, however

“There were some meets where I made $150 bucks,” Connaughton told The Guardian in Charlottetown.

But more glory awaits for the Beijing Olympian, perhaps.

The New Haven native was selected for Canada’s squad at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India in October, where he’s slated to run the 200 metres and the 4x100-metre men’s relay.

He’s on the Island for several days resting and relaxing before his job starts again.

Connaughton joins national 200-metre runner-up Brian Barnett and other members of the Canadian 4x100 metre men’s relay team in Germany for a training camp.

The team will race in an IAAF Diamond League meet in Zurich, Switzerland, on Aug. 19.

Connaughton owns the fastest 200-metre time in Canada this year (20:61) and came near equaling that in Toronto, finishing in 20:66 and beating Barnett (21:02), who won the 200 metres last year, by just over 3/10ths of a second.

And although Connaughton (10:28) came second in the 100-metre final to Sam Effah (10:21), he’s pleased with the medal haul and his performance, which included setting a new event mark in the 200 metres.

Barnett held the old record of 20:71.

“I set the (Varsity) Stadium record in the 200. To come out on top in the 200 was absolutely my objective going in,” said Connaughton. “Obviously, silver isn’t something to be ashamed about. I feel good about this one.”

So far this season, Connaughton, 25, has picked up three wins in 200 metres and pair of wins in 100 metres, three second-place finishes in 200 metres and a third in the 200 — many of those results in a recent swing through Finland, Ireland, Crete and Belgium.

His was one of two podium performances for P.E.I. in Toronto.

Souris triple jumper Kurt McCormack won a silver medal with a jump of 14.72 metres.

Jacob Zorzella of Toronto won the triple jump gold (15.47 metres), his second straight national title, while David St. Bernard of Scarborough, Ont., took bronze (14.71 metres).

In Europe, often autograph seekers and statistics junkies wait outside hotel rooms for their favourite runners.

It’s much different in North America, where most track athletes go unnoticed.

creid@theguardian.pe.ca

——

Connaughton to put on clinic

Olympic sprinter Jared Connaughton will be part of a clinic on P.E.I. next week.

He’s the attraction at a speed clinic at the Stratford indoor soccer complex.

The clinic is being hosted by Connaughton and and Spero Mantzavrakos, owner of Next Level Training and a former NHL strength and conditioning coach.

It’s a way, Connaughton said, to teach an athlete how to adapt techniques from one sport to another.

“Sprinters are really aware of movement,” he said. “If you can learn the finer elements of track, you can carry it over into your sport.”

The sessions will be held on Wednesday, Aug.11, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for 10 to 13 years olds, and 7:30 to 9 p.m. for 14 years old and up.

Cost is $40 (tax included).

Contact Mantzavrakos at 316-1888 to register. Space is limited.

Participants will receive a speed program and a dry-fit T-shirt.

Connaughton picked for Commonwealth Games

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/08/04/pei-connaughton-commonwealth-games-584.html

Connaughton picked for Commonwealth Games

P.E.I. sprinter Jared Connaughton will be competing in three events at the Commonwealth Games this fall in India.

Connaughton will run in the 100 and 200 metre events, as well as the 4 x 100 relay.

Last weekend, Connaughton won gold in the 200 metre sprint at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Toronto.

The Commonwealth Games begin Oct. 6.

Connaughton sprints to national gold

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/07/30/sp-cdn-track.html

Connaughton sprints to national gold

By Paul Gains, CBC Sports

Charlottetown's Jared Connaughton blazed the curve in the men’s 200 metre final and ran away with the Canadian championship on Friday night at the University of Toronto.

The veteran sprinter recorded a time of 20.66 seconds to beat defending champion Bryan Barnett in convincing fashion. The 23-year-old from Edmonton could manage only 21.02 for the silver medal.

The newly crowned champion had said earlier this week he was in his best shape ever and prepared to challenge Atlee Mahorn's long standing record of 20.17 at the distance.

It wasn’t to be. The newly laid track, he said, was not as fast as he expected.

"It’s a little bit soft," said Connaughton. "I was hoping to run fast. I am really capable of it. I was hoping to challenge the Canadian record, it wasn’t happening today but I will get it. "If it’s not this year it will be in the next couple of years."

"I got a really good start and it sets me up well but then I get a little bit anxious and back off too much," he added. "If I just dial it in on the curve and run like I know I can 20.66 can be 20.36. I had the race in control by 50 metres."

Following the championships, Connaughton will head home for a two week break in P.E.I. before joining Barnett and other members of the Canadian sprint relay team in Germany for a training camp. The team will race in the Zurich and Brussels IAAF Diamond League meets.

In the women’s triple jump, Tabia Charles came very close to matching her Canadian record with a leap of 13.94 metres, just five centimetres less than the mark she set earlier this season.

Wearing flowers in her hair and fishnet stockings, Charles dominated the competition as second place went to Neb Zachariah with a distance of 12.41.

Charles was in a cheerful mood following the medal ceremony.

"It could have been perfect conditions but they had us jump into a negative wind, which I have never seen before, but we do things differently in Canada," she said, laughing. "But it was good, I could have gone 14. I felt awesome."

Three years ago Adam Kunkel made the 400 metre hurdles final at the 2007 world championships in Osaka but pulled up with a hamstring strain. Since then he has not been healthy.

Kunkel had an easy time winning the first of two semifinals on Friday in a time of 52.54 seconds.

"It's been a good year with my new coach Anthony McCleary," Kunkel says. "He’s done a good job getting me healthy so I can handle long days of training. It’s nice just to get through a few races healthy without any hiccups like in the past few years. I am now training consistently and I am hoping to put in a few good performances before the year is out."

Kunkel said his goal on Saturday is to get as close to 50 seconds as possible.

The men’s 3,000 steeplechase came down to a duel between training partners based out of Guelph, Ont., Rob Watson and Alex Genest. Watson — who represented Canada at the 2009 world championships in Berlin — set the early pace, stringing the field out single file.

But with a kilometre remaining Genest surged and eventually caught his friend. Genest’s winning time was 8:36.11, while Watson barely hung onto second place in 8:44.43. The bronze medal went to Travis McKay of Edmonton in a time of 8:45.12.

"I was totally confident in catching him," said Genest, who calls Lac Aux Sables, Que., home. "The thing is we train together and we know each other pretty well. Today I just wanted to race. I have had a pretty bad season. I need to be healthy all year long that is my big problem now. My Achilles tendon has bothered me for the past three years. I know I can run in the 8:20’s, I just need to be healthy."

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Sports/2010-07-31/article-1639003/Island-track-stars-medal-at-nationals/1

Island track stars medal at nationals

Gold for Connaughton, silver for McCormack

TORONTO — Jared Connaughton of New Haven captured gold while Kurt McCormack of Souris won silver Friday at the Canadiadn track and field championships.

Connaughton won the men’s 200-metre final in a time of 20.66 seconds.

Defending champion Brian Barnett of Edmonton finished second in 21.02 while Jarid Vaughan of British Colubmia was third in 21.36.

Connaughton ran a 21:12 in his preliminary race Thursday.

Barnett finished second (21:13) while Tyrone Halstead of Mississauga, Ont., came in third (21:54).

Connaughton runs in the first of three 100-metres heats today at 3:05 p.m. AT.

Connaughton, who holds the best 200-metre time in Canada at 20:61, won the 200-metre event in 2008 and finished second last year.

The New Haven sprinter and former Olympian finished third in the 100 metres in 2009.

McCormack, 22, finished second in the triple jump event Friday with a best-jump of 14.72 metres.

Jacob Zorzella of Toronto won the event with a jump 15.47 metres.

David St. Jacob of Ontario was third with a 14.71.

McCormack finished third (15.02 metres) at last year's nationals and was an all-American in triple jump last season at Dickinson State University in North Dakota.

His personal best jump is 15.54, achieved last year at Dickinson State.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Sports/Track-%26amp%3B-field/2010-08-01/article-1642252/Connaughton-captures-silver-at-nationals/1

Connaughton captures silver at nationals

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Jared Connaughton of New Haven won silver in the 100-metre final at the Canadian Track and Field Championships Saturday in Toronto.

Connaughton ran a 10.28 to finish seven one-hundredths of a second behind gold medallist Sam Effah who ran a 10.21.

Connaughton went into the final with the fastest qualifying time after he ran a 10.31 in the first preliminary heat.

Meanwhile, former world indoor and outdoor champion Perdita Felicien captured her ninth 100-metre hurdles title Saturday, edging rival Priscilla Lopes-Schliep in a battle between two of the world’s best.

“I take a lot of pride running at home, I don’t get a lot of opportunity,” Felicien said. “And when you get ‘P’ versus ‘P,’ you’ve got to bring your ‘A’ game.”

Felicien crossed in 12.72 seconds in the marquee event that had been hyped like a heavyweight prize fight between the two rivals, who raced in identical electric pink singlets.

Lopes-Schliep, the Olympic bronze medallist from Whitby, Ont., was the first out of the blocks, but faded to 12.75.

“Hard-fought, probably one of the closest margins in a long time,” said Felicien, who holds the Canadian record of 12.46 and has the fourth fastest time in the world this year.

Felicien, who turns 30 on Aug. 29, said despite the dozens of times she’s sprinted down tracks on the world’s stage, the Canadian championships were still packed full of pressure.

“This week has probably been the most affected I’ve been, I can compare it to preparing for an Olympic Games or even a world championships where you’re the favourite, I kind of felt that here,” Felicien said.

With files by The Canadian Press

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Sports/2010-07-28/article-1626761/Island-track-stars-are-focused/1

Island track stars are focused

Charles Red

Redemption time

for McCormack, Connaughton at the nationals

Yes, those are chips on the shoulders of Kurt McCormack and Jared Connaughton this week at the 2010 Canadian track and field championships in Toronto.

The reason? The Islanders are itching for redemption.

Connaughton, a New Haven native, finishing second in the 200 metres at the nationals last year and third in the 100 metres — placings that irked the Olympic sprinter.

McCormack of Souris, had a strong triple-jumping season in the United States university circuit go awry with a sixth-place non-medal finish at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics outdoor nationals earlier this year.

McCormack goes straight to the men's triple jump final Friday at 7 p.m. because meet organizers scrapped field event qualifying.

Connaughton begins 100-metre qualifying today at 1:40 p.m., then 200-metre heats at 6:45 p.m., and he’s aiming at different result than last summer.

“No, I think (the pressure) is a little bit less. That was a major faux pas last year at the championship,” said Connaughton in a cell phone interview as he boarded an airplane for Toronto. “I kind of underachieved.”

So far this season, Connaughton, 25, has picked up two wins in 200 metres and pair of wins in 100 metres, three second-place finishes in 200 metres and a third in the 200 — much of those results in a recent swing through Finland, Ireland, Crete and Belgium.

The pace has agreed with him as he has the top 200 time (20:61) and second best 100 time (10:28) in Canada and ranked first in 200 metres in Toronto.

He’s been used to indoor, which enjoys about a month between races. Outdoors, it’s a tour, a new stop every week or so. And sometimes that’s not a bad thing, he said, because too much time can play on the mind.

“It’s definitely something I haven't done enough over my career,” said Connaughton, who ran in the 200-metre semifinals at the 2008 Olympic

Games in China and finished sixth at the Games with the 4x100- metre men’s relay team.

McCormack is adjusting to a new style. Always a right-footed jumper, he switched earlier this summer to leaping off the left foot — a change prompted by his less-than stellar NAIA outdoor nationals result. McCormack, 22, finished up his junior year at Dickinson State University in North Dakota in May.

“It was definitely a disappointment to come in sixth. Indoors, I was ranked second in 2010. I had great conditioning,” he said. “I just never got it together. I was probably my most depressing time in triple jump.”

McCormack had four firsts, including a personal best 15.54 metres, and two seconds in triple jump this season at Dickinson State, plus a second in the 4x200-metre men’s relay and the 4x100-metre relay.

But the NAIA result meant something had to change.

So McCormack returned to P.E.I. and worked with James Buhlman, Athletics P.E.I. technical director, on the new approach.

Now, McCormack said, he hopes to even out his speed, have better control of the triple jumps phases and balance his leaps.

“I came home and learned how to run (calmer) on on the runway. It’s a challenge, but I’m a athlete and I like the challenge,” said McCormack, who recently was named Sport P.E.I.’s intercollegiate male athlete of the year.

After the nationals, Connaughton hopes to compete the Atlantic championships next month in Charlottetown, then he’s off to more racing in Europe, starting with a Diamond League event Aug. 19 in Zurich, Switzerland.

McCormack said he will return for his senior season at Dickinson State and plans to add the long jump to his repertoire.

creid@theguardian.pe.ca

Connaughton finishes second at Osaka Grand Prix

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=339338&sc=99

Connaughton finishes second at Osaka Grand Prix

Islander starts 200-metre race from Lane 9

The Guardian

OSAKA, Japan — Islander Jared Connaughton earned the most impressive result of his senior athletics career Saturday, finishing second in the 200 metres at the Osaka Grand Prix.

The New Haven native, who reached the semifinals at the distance in the Beijing Olympics, crossed the line in 20.61 seconds. The 24-year-old trailed only Michael Rodgers of the United States, whose time was 20.55. Japan’s Shinji Tahahira was third.

The amazing part of Connaughton's placing was that he ran out of rarely ran Lane 9, which is a definite disadvantage compared to the rest of field.

Connaughton has not finished lower than second in any of individual races in this young 2010 season.

On the women’s side, Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., finished third in the 100 metre hurdles with a time of 13.03. Ginnie Powell of the U.S. won in in 12:76.

Includes information from The Associated Press

Island sprinter wins 200m race in Baton Rouge

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=337023&sc=99

Island sprinter wins 200m race in Baton Rouge

The Guardian

Baton Rouge, La. — New Haven sprinter Jared Connaughton continued his winning ways Saturday, capturing the 200-meter section at an event here in a blazing time of 20.74.
The field of more than 40 competitors were sprinting into a negative headwind.
It is Connaughton’s best time of the season. He also ran the third leg for Team Canada, finishing second behind the Tiger Olympians, made up of Caribbean Olympians featuring Richard Thompson and Xavier Carter.
Connaughton’s next race will be the prestigious Penn Relays next week.

~*~

Jared Connaughton's blog - "The Sprinting Canamerican"

Connaughton continues hot season in track

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=336363&sc=99

Connaughton continues hot season in track

The Guardian

New Haven sprinter Jared Connaughton continued his hot 2010 outdoor track season start with a second-place finish in the 100 metres at the North Texas University spring invitational in Denton, Tex., on the weekend.

Connaughton’s 10:32 time was second only to American Rae Edwards’ 10:24 in the 39-runner field, adding to his three firsts so far year.

He finished tops late last month in 200 metres (21:49) and 4x100-metre relay (39:33) at the University of Texas at Arlington Invitational.

He also placed first in the 100 metres (10:20) at the Horned Frog invitational at Texas Christian University in early March in Fort Worth, Tex.

Connaughton, 24, races again in the Louisiana State University Alumni Gold on Friday and Saturday in Baton Rouge, La., where he will compete in the 200 metres and with Team Canada in the 4x100-metre men’s relay.

Sport P.E.I. recently named Connaughton, who lives and trains in Arlington, as a finalist for its top senior male award. The Sport P.E.I. awards banquet is Wednesday in Charlottetown.

Connaughton wins two events at U.S. invitational

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=334415&sc=99

Connaughton wins two events at U.S. invitational

The Guardian

ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Jared Connaughton of New Haven teamed up with an International 4x100 relay team to win the University of Texas at Arlington Bobby Lane Invitational recently.

Connaughton and teammates Anson Henry of Ontario and Americans Otis McDaniel and Darvis (Doc) Patton won in a time 39.33 seconds.

All teammates were Olympians except McDaniel, who is an all-American.

The time was the third-fastest relay time in the world this year.

Connaughton also won the 200-metre event and ran away from the rest of the competitors in extreme wind conditions in a field of over 70 sprinters.

Connaughton will compete next weekend at the Texas Relays at the University of Texas in Austin.

It is one of the largest track and field meets in the United States and will include over 1,000 athletes, Connaughton will go for his third victory of the early track season.

Former bobsledder MacEachern developing some of Canada's top track athletes

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5j8HCOcYPHnexR3DPm_bdLZv-tgLA

Former bobsledder MacEachern developing some of Canada's top track athletes

By Lori Ewing (CP)

CHARLOTTETOWN — As the coach of Prince Edward Island's first track club, Dave MacEachern didn't exactly have state-of-the-art facilities at his disposal.

The former Canadian Olympic bobsledder held workouts on an old railway bed when the weather co-operated. Cold days meant heading inside, either into the hallway of a nearby school or an abandoned flea market, where he would roll out an 80-metre long strip of rubber he'd purchased to use as a makeshift track.

Growing up on P.E.I., MacEachern knows all about overcoming odds, and his message is simple: it's what's inside that counts.

"As long as we have the right attitude and heart, you can go anywhere with track and field," said Kurt McCormack, one of MacEachern's top athletes with his club Sparta Athletics, and bronze medallist in triple jump Tuesday at the Canada Summer Games.

MacEachern's athletes captured P.E.I.'s first two medals at these Games - Matt Caseley of French River won gold in the hammer throw Tuesday night.

MacEachern, 41, has been back living and raising his family in Charlottetown since his Olympic gold medal bobsled career ended in 2000.

One of his first success stories was Jared Connaughton. He started coaching the sprinter in Grade 11 with a goal of "getting him out of here," and Connaughton went on to run track at the University of Texas in Arlington where he still lives and trains. He has the No. 2 time in Canada this year in both the 100 and 200 metres, and was part of the Canadian 4x100 relay team that finished fifth last week at the world championships in Berlin.

"It was tough to get the wheels spinning here," said Connaughton, who is back in town to watch the Canada Games. "You had to be determined to run fast and put in the effort in a place that just didn't harbour the opportunities.

"I call this my jump-off point, and I always have that in the back of my head, that this is where I come from. Sprinters can get a little needy, but I'm very bare bones and that was instilled in me here."

Bare bones is an understatement. The 21-year-old McCormack, who grew up in Souris, a tiny coastal town of just over 1,200 people 80 kilometres northeast of Charlottetown, learned to triple jump on pavement because there wasn't a proper pit in P.E.I. MacEachern worked on strengthening his legs so they could take the constant jarring of landing on rock-hard asphalt.

"I think where we came from really grounded us in track and field, coming from nothing," said McCormack. "We don't take anything for granted."

But things are changing. Thanks to the Canada Games, the island has its first rubberized track, part of the $6.8-million Alumni Canada Games Place at UPEI.

Connaughton is impressed.

"I flew in this morning," Connaughton said. "You're always looking out the window to see P.E.I. from a neat perspective, and when I looked down and saw the track and saw all the stuff set up, it kind of hit home. It's come a long way."

McCormack, who'll head back to Dickinson State University in North Dakota after the Games, jumped 14.93 metres to take bronze. Taylor Stewart of London, Ont., won the gold with 14.76, while Jacob Zorzella of Toronto jumped 14.95 for second.

Caseley won the hammer with a throw of 56.55 metres. Angus Taylor of Richmond, B.C., won the silver with 55.88, while Nolan Henderson of New Westminster, B.C., took the bronze with 55.80.

MacEachern, who teamed up with Pierre Lueders to win gold in the two-man at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, retired two years later after suffering several concussions.

"I didn't really have a whole lot of desire to collect any more concussions and my children really made me think twice about Olympics and personal pursuits, so that was part of it," MacEachern said.

The lure of competing in front of a hometown crowd at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics had MacEachern considering a comeback. He had spoken with Lueders and started training seriously again, but was feeling a lot of pain in one knee. Test results showed he'd partially torn his ACL playing soccer.

"Who knows if I could have or not?" said MacEachern, who has 28 World Cup medals to his name. "I was still really strong, and I'm still pretty quick right now, definitely for my age. I think Pierre's going to win two medals. I think he's going to do awesome and I wish I was there doing it with him. I'm not, but I wish I was, mostly because of my kids (sons Seamus, 3, Declan, 8, and Conor, 10).

"I would like to do it for them, but otherwise I'm really comfortable in my skin and what I did."

MacEachern and his wife Triona Herrop were the first to introduce pilates and hot yoga to P.E.I. through their gym Dynamic Fitness. Plus the three-time Olympian has trained some of sport's top athletes, such as Dallas Stars forward Brad Richards - a native of Murray Harbour, P.E.I. - through his company Eli Sport.

Thank You Jared Connaughton!

Jared Connaughton, 2005 Canada Summer Games Gold medalist and Olympic Sprinter visit Canada Games Place and meet me. He gave me his VIP tag. Thank You Jared!
I was on track team at Bluefield in grade 10 with Jared. He broke Provincial records.
Jared's UT Arlington Men's Track Team Profile

Relay team misses medal

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=280458&sc=99

	New Haven native Jared Connaughton takes the baton from Canadian teammate Oluseyi Smith while Jamaica’s Michael Frater hands his baton over to Usain Bolt at the start of the third leg of the men’s 4x100-metre relay final Saturday during the world track and field championships in Berlin. (Associated Press photo)

Relay team misses medal

Connaughton and teammates run
a seasonal best time in 4x100

Canwest News Service & The Associated Press

The Canadian 4x100 men’s relay team set a seasonal best time on Saturday at the world track and field championships in Berlin, but it wasn’t good enough to see the team head home with a medal.

The Canadian team, which includes Jared Connaughton of New Haven, finished the race in 38.39 seconds to grab fifth place overall.

The race was won by Jamaica — led by multi-world-record holder Usain Bolt. Jamaica cruised to the gold in 37.31 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago finished second with a time of 37.62, while Great Britain won bronze by finishing in 38.02.

The Canadian team also featured Sam Effah of Calgary, Oluseyi Smith of Ottawa, and anchor Bryan Barnett of Edmonton.

“To tell the truth, we were shooting for the podium,” said Barnett. “The last exchange could have been quicker . . . a season best though so you can’t complain too much, I guess.”

“There’s plenty of room to improve,” added Connaughton. “But 38.39, we’ll take it for now, but I think this is a 37 (second) team and I don’t think we could have said that two years ago.”

Jamaica also won the women’s 4x100 final on Saturday.

Bolt’s third gold medal of the championships failed to produce a third world record because the Jamaican 400-metre relay team only managed to produce the second-fastest time in history.

“It is a little bit my fault,” an apologetic Bolt said, complaining he was just too tired after nine races in eight days.

“I didn’t run the best third leg. I was happy to get around the track and give the baton to Asafa,” he said. “I am dying right now.”

Compounding Bolt’s fatigue was Asafa Powell’s groin injury, which made the anchor runner uncertain until one hour before the start.

Since the Beijing Olympics, Bolt had won five major gold medals with a world record each time. The world record streak ended in the 400 relay after he set two individual marks in Berlin.

“The main thing that counted was getting the gold,” Bolt said.

Connaughton, teammates reach relay final

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=280205&sc=99
Connaughton, teammates reach relay final

The Guardian

The Canadian 4x100-metre men’s relay team ran a season-best time and qualified for today’s final at the 2009 world track and field championships in Berlin, Germany.

Jared Connaughton, a New Haven native, ran the third leg behind Hank Palmer, Oluseyi Smith and in front of anchor Bryan Barnett as Canada finished third in its heat in a time of 38.60 seconds.

Today’s final goes at 3:50 p.m. AT.

The United States had the fastest heat time at 37.97.

Great Britain, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Italy, France and Jamaica also reached the final.

Canada and the Jamaicans tied for the slowest qualifying time (38.60).

They will run side by side in today’s final.

It’s another medal shot for Connaughton, who earlier in the week was disqualified from the 200-metre after stepping out of his lane during his second-round heat.

His time of 20.80 would have moved him into the semifinals.

Jamaican Usain Bolt won the 200-metre in a world record time of 19.19 but did not run in the relay.

(www.iaaf.org)

Islander runs in relay event today at worlds

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=279925&sc=99

Islander runs in relay event today at worlds
Connaughton runs the third leg on the 4x100-metre team

The Guardian

The show goes on for Jared Connaughton of New Haven at the 2009 world track and field championships in Berlin when he competes today in opening heats of the 4x100-metre men’s relay.

Canada’s heat begins at 2:38 p.m. AT.

Connaughton runs the third leg.

The Canadian team, which also includes Sam Effah, Seyi Smith and Bryan Barnett, ran a 38.63 at a warmup meet in Düsseldorf, Germany, earlier this month.

Tuesday, Connaughton was disqualified from the 200 metres after stepping out of his lane during his second-round heat.

His time of 20.80 would have moved him into the semis.

Connaughton said on his Twitter page he was disappointed — “I was ready to make that damn final” — but is looking ahead to today’s event.

The United States is the defending 4x100-metre champion (37.78).

Jamaica, with Usain Bolt, holds the world record (37.10), set at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The United States holds the event record time of 37.40, set in 1993.

The final is Saturday at 3:50 p.m. AT.

Bolt won the 200-metre final on Thursday in a world-record time of 19.19.

Connaughton returns to P.E.I. after the worlds for week two of the 2009 Canada Summer Games.

He won two gold medals (100 and 200 metres) at the 2005 Games in Regina, Sask.

(www.berlin2009.org)

Connaughton disqualified

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=278921&sc=99

Connaughton disqualified

The Guardian

Canada's Jared Connaughton, of New Haven, P.E.I., reacts after being disqualified after a men's 200m second-round heat during the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Tuesday. Connaughton finished second in his heat, but was later disqualified for a line violation. (Associated Press photo)

Connaughton ready for double

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=278052&sc=99

Connaughton ready for double

Islander to run in the 200-metre and 4x100-metre events
at the world track and field championships in Germany

CHARLES REID
The Guardian

It’s a sprinting double-dip for Jared Connaughton at the world track and field championships, which begin today in Germany.

The New Haven native races in the men’s 4x100-metre relay and Team Canada coaches last week entered him in the men’s 200-metre.

Heats begin Tuesday at 5:05 a.m. AT in the 200 metres.

It’s a race Connaughton’s only ran three times this season, the second a silver finish at the Canadian championships in late June (20.78) and the third a season-best of 20.68 to win the 200-metre in a tune up meet in Düsseldorf, Germany, last week.

Neither were strong enough for the 20.59 qualifying standard, but he got the thumbs up anyway.

“Because of my world ranking and performances from (the 2008 Olympics in) Beijing last year, and my placing at nationals, the coaches decided to give me the nod to run anyhow. And rightfully so,” Connaughton said. “I believe that I’m the best 200-metre runner in Canada and I hope to represent Canada well in Berlin."

Bryan Barnett won the national 200-metre title in 20.71, but that’s far off Usain Bolt’s world record time of 19.30.

The Jamaican set the new mark at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, last summer.

American Tyson Gay is the defending world 200-metre champ (19.76).

Gay has a season-best 200-metre time of 19.58 while Bolt is a blink behind at 19.59.

Last month, five Jamaicans, all who had qualified for the worlds, tested positive at the Jamaican national trials in June.

Bolt wasn’t one of the five which includes four men and a women.

Meanwhile, heats in the 4x100-metre start Friday at 2:30 p.m. AT.

The final is Saturday is 3:50 p.m. AT.

Canada ran a 39.43 at the Okasa worlds in 2007 after baton passing problems led to a last-place finish.

Still, the team rebounded at the Olympics and finished sixth in the final, Canada’s best finish since a gold in 1996.

At the Düsseldorf meet, Connaughton with teammates Sam Effah, Seyi Smith and Barnett ran a 38.63.

Connaughton, who runs the third leg, said Canada’s good roll might continue.

“Our chance in the 4x100-metre team this season is very high. I think that we have an other three or four-10ths of a second to take off that time,” he said. “So I hate to predict times, but I think we can run 38.0 to 38.2.”

The Jamaicans, with Bolt, set another world record at the Olympics (37.10).

The United States, with Gay, is the defending 4x100-metre champion (37.78). The U.S. holds the event record time of 37.40 set in 1993.

Connaughton returns to P.E.I. after the worlds for week two of the 2009 Canada Summer Games.

He won two gold medals (100 and 200 metres) at the 2005 Games in Regina.

(creid@theguardian.pe.ca)

*****

Connaughton’s schedule at the worlds (all times AT):

* Aug. 18 - 200-metre heats, 5:05 a.m.; 200-metre quarter-finals, 1:55 p.m.

* Aug. 19 - 200-metre semifinals, 2:25 p.m.

* Aug. 20 - 200-metre final, 3:35 p.m.

* Aug. 21 - 4x100-metre relay heats, 2:30 p.m.

* Aug. 22 - 4x100-metre relay final, 3:50 p.m.

Connaughton to run in two events at worlds

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=275486&sc=99

Connaughton to run in two events at worlds
P.E.I. runner gets the OK to compete in the 200 metres

The Guardian

Islander Jared Connaughton will be drawing double duty at the 2009 world track and field championships in Berlin later this month.

The New Haven native received the green from the Canadian team coaches on Wednesday to also run in the 200 metres at the championships, which will be held Aug. 15-23.

Connaughton was already on the men’s 4x100-metre relay team, along with Sam Effah, Bryan Barnett, Hank Palmer, Gavin Smellie and Oluseyi Smith.

The Canadian men posted a seasonal best time of 38.62 at the recent Aviva Grand Prix in London.

Connaughton, running the third leg, helped the Canadians finish sixth at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing last summer.

The 200-metre lanes are familiar ground for the 24-year-old Connaughton.

He won the national 200-metre title (20.34) in 2008 en route to a breakout season which culminated with a 200-metre semifinal appearance in Beijing.

But he ran only one 200-metre race before the Canadian nationals track and field championships last month in Toronto while focusing on improving his 100-metre times.

Connaughton finished second in the 200 metres (20.78) and third in the 100 metres (10.47) at the nationals.

In 2005, he won the 100-metre and 200-metre events at the Canada Games in Regina and became the first Islander to win double-gold in a single set of Games.

The gold medals also were P.E.I.’s first since 1969.

He’s currently training in Kamen, Germany

Highs, lows of track and field - Connaughton and McCormack ponder results at the national championships

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=266167&sc=99

Highs, lows of track and field
Connaughton and McCormack ponder results at the national championships

CHARLES REID
The Guardian

One’s up, one’s down, both are dissatisfied.
Such is the nature of Jared Connaughton and Kurt McCormack after the 2009 Canadian track and field championships and world trials recently in Toronto.
McCormack, a Souris-born triple jumper is feeling up.
He finished with a bronze medal in the event jumping 15.02 metres, a 10th of a centimetre off his personal outdoor best, and rose seven places and 62 centimetres from last year’s nationals.
He ran his first national 200-metre race ending up with a 22.95 in the preliminary but didn’t qualify for the final.
“Overall, I guess, I can’t be too unhappy with the bronze medal. (I was shooting) for a personal best. In all honesty, I was going for gold,” said McCormack, who’s back in P.E.I. recovering from a back injury suffered at the triple jump final. “I was in a pretty fast heat (in the 200-metre). I wasn’t satisfied with my time. It was raining real heavy when I was running.”
The injury forced him to pass on his fifth jump and reduced his last attempt to 14.26.
McCormack said he will do light workouts with coach Dave MacEachern and rest for four weeks before resuming jumping and heavy training for the 2009 Canada Summer Games next month on P.E.I.
Enter Connaughton, a 2008 Olympic 200-metre semifinalist who went into Toronto as the defending 200-metre champ.
The New Haven native is feeling down after winning silver in the 200-metre and bronze in the 100-metre (10.47).
“Not as good as I expected to be honest. I’m a pretty competitive athlete,” he said before leaving for his training facility in Arlington, Texas. “I went into the meet in good shape and I was disappointed.”
Connaughton finished first in his 200-metre qualifier (20.95) and fourth (10.73) and third (10.41), respectively, in the 100-metre qualifying races in Toronto.
For many runners those are encouraging results.
For Connaughton, who ran a 10.26, 100-metre race earlier this year and his 10.15 last year proved the fastest time in Canada, it’s a conundrum.
“I was trying too hard and didn’t let the race happen. Last year was a real breakthrough. I wasn’t really expecting to do as well as I did. This year I had real high expectations of myself.”
So, like McCormack, he’s returning to his training roots.
For him, it’s Texas with his coach Monte Stratton to refine his technique and form.
He spent five years with Stratton at the University of Texas at Arlington.
“I’m comfortable there. Just knowing that I have people there on my side with no reservations.”
Neither Islander qualified for the world track and field championships in Berlin next month.
Only four Canadian athletes reached the marks and few chances remain.
One of those is a meet in Ottawa in mid-July.
Connaughton will be in Berlin as a member of Canada’s 4x100-metre men’s relay team, which finished sixth at the Beijing Olympics last year, but needs a 20.59, 200-metre time and a 10.34, 100-metre time in Ottawa to meet the standard at the worlds.
“I don’t like the idea of chasing standards, but that’s the reality right now.”
McCormack won’t be in Berlin, yet.
But it and larger Games are in his sights and he said progress is measured in centimetres and patience.
“I’m not really looking for worlds. I’m aiming for (the) 2012 (Olympic Games) in London. It’s track and field and it’s just the way it is,” said the 19-year-old, whose parents, Myrtle and Tommy McCormack, were pit-side in Toronto to cheer him on. “If you’re good enough to compete at that level, it’s not frustrating. It just takes time.”
Other Islanders at the nationals included Gerry MacAdam, who finished 31st (11.64) in his 100-metre heat and 27th (23.24) in 200-metre qualifying, and Anthony Bernard, who jumped 7.02 metres in the men’s long jump. Neither advanced to the finals.
****
Their results at the track nationals:
* Jared Connaughton
100-metre men’s sprint: preliminary, 10.73 (fourth); semifinal, 10.41 (third); final, 10.47 (third).
200-metre men’s sprint: preliminary, 20.95 (first); final, 20.78 (second).
* Kurt McCormack
200-metre men’s sprint: preliminary, 22.95 (23rd); final, did not qualify.
Triple Jump: preliminary (best-of-three attempts), 14.81 (fourth); final, 15.02 (third).