Mason building foundation for Olympic bid
In spite of very cool and windy conditions on Saturday at UBC’s Dhilon track, Abbotsford resident Mike Mason took a big step towards being selected for the London Olympic Games.
The Valley Royals athlete and a former world junior champion cleared 2.28 metres, meeting the Olympic 'B' standard.
To make the Olympic team, Mason must clear the 2.28m mark once more, or jump 2.31m (the 'A' standard) before the end of June and also make the top three at the national championships.
“I'm feeling really, really good,” said Mason after his win. “This is just my second meet competing outdoors this year. The last one was last weekend in some pretty poor conditions so I'm quite excited that, just second meet out, I am able to get a 'B' standard.”
“I'm using a new run-up approach devised by my coach Ziggy Szelagowicz that I haven't had in previous years and it seems to really be working. It's been a really big change for me.”
In two weeks' time Mason will travel to California to take part in two or three meets. With the kinder climatic conditions down south it may be quite possible that Mason will achieve the 'A' standard needed to virtually assure his Olympic selection.
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