Proudfoot advances to Olympic Trials final

Having made the jump from the junior ranks, Track North middle-distance star Ross Proudfoot can begin tackling the task ahead of establishing himself within the Canadian senior ranks.

Based on his initial foray at the 2012 Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials in Calgary, so far, so good, for the 19-year-old Lively native. Proudfoot was the youngest of a dozen qualifiers from a field of 24 to advance through to the finals on Friday, finishing fourth in his heat in a time of 3:50.60.

"It's always a nice relief when you're through the heats and can just focus on the finals," Proudfoot indicated in email correspondance with long-time Track North coach Darren Jermyn.

"It's really great to make the finals at an Olympic Trials, not to mention in my first year as a senior. Hopefully, I can have a strong finish and get a good result tomorrow."

After starting the outdoor season with a bang, lowering his personal best time in the 1,500-m, Proudfoot has struggled somewhat of late, running four to five seconds slower in recent races within the National Track League in Western Canada.

But with a couple weeks of rest, he's hopeful that the times return to the low 1:40's range in his first major test at this level.

Taylor Milne, a 30-year-old teammate of Proudfoot's with the Speed River Track and Field Club, posted the fastest qualifying time (3:46.71), with all 12 finalists finishing less than four seconds apart.

Today's competition will also find a few other local athletes of note, as sprinter Ashley Huard takes part in the opening round of the women's 100-m dash, Andrew Ellerton competes in the first round of the men's 800-m and Espanola jumper Caroline Ehrhardt looks to podium in the women's triple jump finals.

Posted by Laurel Myers