Canadian Paris 2024 Olympic hopeful Thomas Fafard of Repentigny, Que., has signed knowledgeable contract with Brooks Working. On Thursday on the 2024 Bell Canadian Olympic Observe and Area Trials, Fafard debuted within the Brooks singlet, ending second within the males’s 5,000m last in 13:18.82.
Fafard broke the information on social media Thursday earlier than the boys’s 5,000m last: “I’m proud to announce that I’m formally a part of the Brooks household,” he stated. “Thanks to everybody who has accompanied me on this journey and made this dream doable.”
Fafard’s 5,000m time at Canadian Olympic Trials was the second-fastest time of his profession. In Could, he set an enormous private better of 13:05.07, lacking the Olympic commonplace by seven one-hundredths of a second. The 25-year-old got here into the boys’s 5,000m last needing a top-two end or a quick time to maintain his Paris 2024 Olympic desires alive. Fafard sits forty first of 42 positions within the World Athletics qualification quota for choice. A quicker time and excessive end at Trials would give his Olympic ambitions extra safety through the last weekend of qualification.
His coaching accomplice and buddy, Jean-Simon Desgagnés, got here out to tempo Fafard and the boys’s 5,000m discipline via 2,000m (5 laps) at round 13:10 tempo. Fafard took over, and saved the foot on the gasoline till the Olympic silver medallist and Canadian 5,000m document holder, Moh Ahmed, pushed forward within the last kilometre. Ahmed held on to win the race in a brand new championship document of 13:10.98, with Fafard eight seconds again.
“I’m pleased with my race,” stated Fafard. “The purpose was to extend my world rankings; 13:18 and second place, I can’t complain.”
Fafard’s second-place end will give him somewhat extra safety, shifting up two spots from forty first to thirty ninth within the WA Street to Paris quota. He might want to wait till July 2 to search out out whether or not he shall be heading to his first Olympic Video games. If he stays within the quota till July 2, he shall be named to Staff Canada on July 7.
“With every part up within the air proper now, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping to get the decision from Athletics Canada,” stated Fafard.
For full outcomes from the 2024 Canadian Observe and Area Championships, examine right here.
The 2024 Bell Canadian Olympic Observe and Area Trials are happening from June 26-30 on the Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard in Montreal. All our motion and protection is delivered to you by Canadian Working and New Stability Canada. Observe us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Canadian Olympic Trials and up-to-date unique information and content material.
