SUMMER OLYMPICS
Sam Effah gets one last run at 100m berth at London
The original game plan called for Sam Effah to race this weekend at the Donovan Bailey Invitational in Edmonton. For obvious reasons. Every competition represents a dwindling opportunity for Effah to run the 100 metres in the Canadian qualifying standard of 10.18 seconds, a feat necessary to book his ticket as an individual runner to the London Olympics.
But with little fanfare, Canada’s fastest man pulled up with a sore left quadriceps on May 31 at a Diamond League meet in Rome.
As such, Effah cut a solitary figure Thursday during training at Foothills Athletic Park.
Fiercely determined to remain positive, Effah would clearly rather not talk about his troublesome quad.
“I had some issues,” Effah said, trying to catch his breath after sprinting down the very track where his fate will be determined. “But I’m feeling good.”
In between workouts with coach Brenda Van Tighem, Effah shuttles between appointments with physiotherapist Dave Zelibka, massage therapist Mavis Wahl and chiropractor Greg Uchacz.
By missing last week’s Harry Jerome Track Classic in Vancouver and the dono vanbailey Invitational in Edmonton, Ef- fah has only one shot remaining to qualify as an individual runner for London.
His Olympics fate will be determined at the 2012 Canadian Track & Field Trials at Foothills Athletic Park.
At least familiarity is on his side seeing as Effah competed in his first track meet at Foothills as a Grade 7 pupil at F.E. Osborne Junior High School.
“It’s exciting,” said Effah, now 22. “I don’t think of it as all coming down to one race. My chiro told me to think of it as the journey — not just the 10 seconds.”
“He told me to think of all the work I’ve put in over the last five years.”
The threat of injury is present in virtually every sport, but Olympians know better than most how a minor muscle twinge — or an ill-timed cold — threaten to destroy dreams.
Two years ago, Effah shattered the Olympic standard by running the 100 metres in 10.06 seconds — the fourth fastest time in Canadian history. But then he tore his left quad at the Commonwealth Games in India. The rehabilitation process dragged on for more than a year.
On May 19, Effah showed signs of a return to form by running the 100 metres in 10.25 seconds at a meet in Florida.
Then came the troubles in Rome.
“Obviously, this is not ideal,” Van Tighem said. ”You want to go into nationals already having the Olympic qualifying standard.
“It’s not the best scenario. But it is what it is.”
According to Van Tighem, Effah’s issues with his quad are primarily related to the fascia, the band of connective tissue that surrounds muscles, blood vessels and nerves.
In layman’s terms, the medical team is trying to make Effah’s muscles fire more efficiently and in the proper order. An ultrasound this week confirmed the leg is “all clear” for training. There is no pull, tear, or strain.
“It’s such a crazy time trying to qualify and trying to sort all this stuff out,” Van Tighem said. “We didn’t want it to come to this kind of pressure. But he’s keeping positive, and he’s going to race.”
If Effah fails to hit the standard, he may still qualify for London as a member of the 4X100 relay team.
As it stands today, Effah is ranked No. 4 in the country behind Aaron Brown, Justyn Warner and Ian Warner, all of Toronto.
Effah is counting on the support of his fellow Calgarians in what is shaping up as the biggest track meet of his life.
“Come out to the race,” Effah said. “Judging from last year, there were a lot of people. A lot of noise. A lot of excitement. I think it’s going to be all that and more, because now there’s more on the line.
“More at stake.”