Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada (right) and Damu Cherry of the USA (centre) qualify for the 100m hurdles semi finals (© Getty Images)
Canadian 100m hurdler Priscilla LopesSchliep is quickly discovering that doors open for an Olympic bronze medallist.
The 26-year-old has been practicing the jet setting lifestyle befitting an elite athlete yet managing to turn in results that appear right on track to reach the medal podium at this summer’s 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany (15 – 23 Aug 2009).
Her 12.93 seconds performance at the Kansas Relays last month (18 April) was good enough to surpass the World championships ‘A’ standard and confirmed she had begun the outdoor season right where she had left off indoors.
“Kansas was the first time I have gone under 13 seconds for the opener,” she reveals from her home in Whitby, Ontario. “With all the workouts I am doing, and to actually do the times I am running, it’s great.”
“I have a big ‘thing’ coming up this year, the Worlds in Berlin, so I’m getting ready for that and hopefully the World Athletics Final. Everything is feeling good. You have your little tweaks here and there, but other than that, everything is feeling good, and I am looking forward to the many travels I have ahead of me for the outdoor season.”
Next on her schedule was last weekend’s Guadeloupe meeting (1 May) where she achieved the world championship ‘B’ standard while running into a 1.7 m/s headwind (13.01 sec). That was enough to solidify her place on the Canadian team for Berlin. All she need do now is finish in the top three at the Canadian national championships at the University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre, 25-28 June.
Next outing - Doha
The University of Nebraska graduate attended a Tuesday morning (5 May) press conference for Toronto’s “Festival of Excellence” the 11 June fixture which features the incredible Usain Bolt, and she was then scheduled to fly half way around the world to Doha, Qatar for Friday’s IAAF World Athletics Tour meeting (8 May)
“I am aiming for the Worlds, obviously, but building up to that we are going to the meets that are going to help me qualify for the Berlin final,” she explains. “Doha is a Super Grand Prix and it’s a fast track and it’s hot. I am hoping for some good results out there.”
“As an athlete you want to keep performing to be the best you can be otherwise what are you doing? Last year was my first year to make the World Athletics Final I will continue to work hard and hopefully this year I will repeat. I am just really excited about the whole experience everything that has come my way after the Olympics. It has opened my eyes. It’s been a fun ride.”
The Doha meeting will be special also because her husband Bronsen Schliep will join her and then accompany her back to Canada for a few weeks. The former basketball player is studying dentistry at the University of Nebraska while his wife trains at home in Canada with Anthony McCleary, who has guided her since she was in high school.
“The reason I am back in Canada is that Anthony is here and my husband Bronsen said ‘you need to go where you are going to work to be the best and be with your coach’ Lopes Schliep reveals, “Anthony understands me. Some people jump around from coach to coach, but for me it has been working for me with Anthony so I will continue to work with him.”
'Awesome' track date with Felicien
Amongst the meetings she’s committed to, and the one she is most excited about, is the Festival of Excellence where she is pitted against rival Perdita Felicien, the 2003 World champion. Felicien who also struck silver at the 2007 World Championships, missed the Beijing Olympics due to injury. Organisers are excited about the rivalry.
“I don't know who has been finalised on the entry list but whoever is showing up I am racing against,” says Lopes-Schliep.
“It will be awesome! To actually have a big meet and have athletes from all over the world fly in for a big meet like this, I am really pumped to run on my home ground and to have my family out there and then to have our nationals following that (on the same venue) it is just really awesome. I hope they continue to have meets like the Festival meet.”
Paul Gains for the IAAF
