麻豆社区

Whitehorse Daily Star

Frotten repeats A-standard at Quebec City track meet

Four days. That鈥檚 how long Jessica Frotten has to wait to find out if she鈥檚 done enough to make the Canadian Paralympic team.

By Marissa Tiel on July 21, 2016

Four days. That鈥檚 how long Jessica Frotten has to wait to find out if she鈥檚 done enough to make the Canadian Paralympic team.

The 28-year-old has jumped through all the hoops set out by Athletics Canada, but with only 11 female spots open on the 22-athlete team, it鈥檒l be a tight race to see who dons the maple leaf in September.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very small team. It鈥檚 the smallest,鈥 said Frotten from her home in Regina this morning. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been really hard to make.鈥

Last season Frotten, who races in the T53 category (compromised core), flew onto the international circuit, capturing two bronze medals at the Para Pan American Games in Toronto.

This season, the wheelchair racer who trains with the Saskatoon Cyclones, has travelled all over the world in pursuit of the A-standard and B-standard times that will help propel her onto the Paralympic team.

In the qualification document set out by Athletics Canada, there are four criteria steps that staff will use when deciding on the team. First, did the athlete have multiple A-standard times in a single event within the qualifying period (Jan. 1, 2016 to Jul 24.)If not, then, have they had one A-standard. Third, have they had multiple B-standard times in an event.

And finally, have they had one B-standard time.

Then, athletes are 鈥渘ominated in priority order within each step.鈥 Athletics Canada uses a points table which scores the athlete in an event based on how far off percentage of the world record time you are. Frotten鈥檚 best this season was 888, Athletics Canada wants a 900.

But, as Frotten points out, not many have that 900-point score.

Frotten has consistently been hitting the A-standard in the 100-metre, her best event. She also has hit the B-standard numerous times in both the 400 and 800, which are the other two events she would compete in.

After fighting a bout of tendonitis in her shoulder at the national championships in Edmonton two weeks ago 鈥 Frotten still picked up four medals 鈥 she opted to go to a meet in Quebec City to she if she could hit that A-standard one last time.

And on the Universit茅 de Laval鈥檚 track, she did, in the 100 and was close to her personal best in the 400. She admits the 800 wasn鈥檛 her best performance.

鈥淸It] was at the end of the night and I kind of died,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 had a really good first lap.鈥

For now, she鈥檚 enjoying her time at home in Regina, getting back into a routine.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so nice,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e been running all over the place chasing this standard.鈥

She鈥檚 enjoying time spent at the track training at home.

鈥淚鈥檓 just going to pretend that I know that I鈥檓 going and I鈥檒l train like that,鈥 she said.

Until she receives word on the 25th about the team, she feels like she鈥檚 in a limbo. And on Monday, 鈥淚鈥檒l probably be checking my email every five minutes.鈥

Comments (3)

Up 5 Down 0

Margo Perry on Jul 22, 2016 at 11:24 am

Routing for you all the way!

Up 3 Down 0

Ronald Doucette on Jul 22, 2016 at 7:15 am

WE are all for you here in Quinan Jessica

Up 7 Down 0

Debra Boyle on Jul 22, 2016 at 7:13 am

Excited for the 25th, you got this Jess 鉂わ笍 to the moon and back

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.