EDMONTON,ALB - JULY 9: Day Three action at the 2016 Canadian Track & Field Championship & Olympic Trials at Foote Field on July 9, 2016 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Photo : Claus Andersen — with Taylor Milne.
EDMONTON,ALB – JULY 9: Day Three action at the 2016 Canadian Track & Field Championship & Olympic Trials at Foote Field on July 9, 2016 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Photo : Claus Andersen — with Taylor Milne.

 

August 16th.

That’s when the 3000m Steeplechase heats are scheduled for the Rio Olympics and Callander’s Taylor Milne will be there.

After previously meeting the Olympic Standard time, he finished first on the weekend at the Canadian Championship and Rio Olympic Trials.

The official announcement came today (Monday) with Athletics Canada announcing the 65 nominations for Rio, including Milne.

The 34 year old competed for Canada in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in 1500m, but wasn’t seeing that breakthrough four years later when he just missed qualifying for the London Olympics. “I thought I needed a little change, either it was physical or emotional or whatever, I just decided to make the switch and throw myself at the steeplechase.” He said Monday morning from Edmonton.

In terms of Rio, Milne says, “this last month of training has gone really well, so I think I’m ready to do better than my time and my ranking. The final’s the definite goal, then once you’re in that it’s kind of see what we can do.”

Area residents will now have two athletes to watch at the Summer Olympics.

Former North Bay Y Titan Dominique Bouchard is competing in the 100m and 200m backstroke events after qualifying this spring.