ekansekans's blog: "df"

CALGARY - Jessica Zelinka made the decision to return to the track after becoming a mom knowing she had the ability to both break her Canadian record, and win a medal at the London Olympics. One down, one to go. The 30-year-old from London, Ont., lowered her national record Thursday en route to winning the Canadian Olympic track and field trials for her seventh national title. Zelinka posted 6599 points — the third best score in the world this year — to better her previous Canadian-record score of 6490 she set in finishing fifth in the gruelling seven-discipline heptathlon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "I dont think its quite sunken in," Zelinka said, still out of breath moments after winning the final event — the 800 metres. "Ive been feeling (the record was possible) for awhile ... I guess I wasnt ready yet until now." Zelinka took a season off after Beijing to become a mom to daughter Anika, whos now three. Since she lives and trains in Calgary, she checked into a hotel for the week to focus solely on the competition, because as her husband Nathaniel Miller said, "its impossible to be at home and not be a mom." She knew Wednesday night she was on pace for the Canadian record, after topping her Day 1 total from Beijing. Thursday morning, she woke up and gave herself permission to finally break that almost-four-year-old mark. "It was kind of weird, I have this image of myself from Beijing, and then the image of myself as a mother coming back, and Ive worked so hard, and have so much support to get me back to where I am now," she said. "I thought, You know what, Jess youre ready, dont resist it, youre ready, just let it happen." Brianne Theisen of Humboldt, Sask., who won her third NCAA heptathlon title earlier this month, was second with 6393 points, while Jen Cotten of London, Ont., was third with 5793 points. Both Zelinka and Theisen cemented their spots for the London Games with their top-three finishes, having already achieved the qualifying standard. Miller and daughter Anika waited near the finish line to each give Zelinka a kiss and hug. "Im just really, really proud because you see what she goes through to put on these kinds of performances," Miller said. Zelinkas longtime coach Les Gramantik, sipping a celebratory beer after a long two days, said his athletes record performance wasnt entirely unexpected. "Its a very nice performance," Gramantik said. "The good thing for me right now is that theres points that were left on the table. . . and a score of 6600-plus gives you a pretty good chance to get on the podium." Zelinka raced out to blistering start to the two-day event, winning the hurdles in 12.76 — the second fastest time by any Canadian this season behind Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep. She posted strong results in high jump, shot put, javelin, the 200 metres and the 800 metres, but struggled in the long jump. Gramantik said the event just proved what he already knew. The coach said testing and training has shown Zelinka is in the best condition of her life. "Her fitness is superb," Gramantik said of Zelinka, who boasts among the most defined abdominal muscles in the sport. "Shes as good as an athlete can be, physically, physiologically superb, and her body composition is as good as you can find in a female athlete anywhere. I challenge anybody in the world to look physically fitter and better." Zelinka was asked if peaking for London will prove more difficult after laying down a Canadian-record performance at nationals. "No, thats easy, Ive been training hard all last week, I havent been peaking so its not like Ive been waiting looking at the clock like Ugh, Im getting out of shape," she said. "Im still building, Im exhausted now, so theres so much to gain from this afterwards, just cutting down the training and feeling refreshed." Zelinka, the 2007 Pan American Games champion and silver medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is also racing in the 100-metre hurdles at the trials. She hasnt ruled out doing both the heptathlon and hurdles in London. Later Thursday, Damian Warner of London, Ont., won the decathlon with a score of 8107. Jamie Adjetey-Nelson of Windsor, Ont., the leader going into the final event, pulled up during the 1,500 metres, and had to settle for second with 7472 points. Patrick Arbour of Ottawa won bronze with 7088 points. Wholesale Jerseys From China . That still wasnt enough to prevent the Mets from a 4-3 loss to the Washington Nationals, extending their losing streak to a season-high six games. Wholesale Jerseys China . Sanchez was among a group of five riders who broke away on the final ascent of the day, the Mur de Peguere, as the three-week race entered the Pyrenees on Sunday. He then made his decisive move 11 kilometres (7 miles) from the finish to claim his fourth Tour stage win. http://bloodcopy.org/wholesale.html . The Padres designated the 37-year-old Suppan for assignment on Friday. Suppan was 2-3 with a 5. PORTLAND, Ore. -- Paul Allen insists hes not going to sell the Portland Trail Blazers, but says this season is the most disappointing hes had in 24 years as the teams owner. The billionaire co-founder of Microsoft posted an open letter to fans on the Blazers team website on Tuesday evening. In it, he reiterated what hes said all season long, that the team is not for sale. "Im working hard to get this team back on track," he wrote. "No offers have been made to buy the team and none have been solicited." The Blazers wrapped up the lockout-shortened season 28-38 and out of the playoffs. Portland is operating with an interim general manager and is looking for a head coach -- but the team has also collected up to four picks in the upcoming NBA draft and has freed up considerable cap space for free agency. Allen said he will be financially sensible with the moves the team makes. "One thing we are not going to do is to spend money like there is no tomorrow, and calls to do so just dont make sense," Allen said. "Ive tried that path before -- it doesnt work and is not sustainable. We will follow a judicious and sustainable path going forward." When the Blazers opened training camp in December, they were hit with bad news. All-Star guard Brandon Roy announced his retirement because of ongoing issues with his kknees, former No.dddddddddddd. 1 draft pick Greg Oden had suffered another setback with his knees, and forward LaMarcus Aldridge needed a procedure to treat a heart condition. Portland answered by signing free agent Jamal Crawford and making some other moves before Aldridge returned and the team got off to a fast start. But soon losses started to mount, and at the trade deadline the Blazers dismissed respected head coach Nate McMillan. The Blazers also traded starters Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace, and waived Oden after five disappointing seasons. "These things happen in sports. Injuries are part of the game. Sometimes you have bad luck. But as the 2011-2012 season played out, I was asking myself the same question I know a lot of you were asking: What happened to a season that had such promise?" Allen wrote. "There are no easy answers for that." Allen confirmed he has interviewed one candidate for the general managers position personally. President Larry Miller said recently that acting GM Chad Buchanan would be considered. "Were moving forward thoughtfully because we must ensure we have the right fit," Allen said. "Ideally, wed like to have someone in place before the draft and before we decide on a permanent coach, but finding the right executive may take time." ' ' '