Lakehead's Tree finishes second at Olympic qualifier

THUNDER BAY – Lakehead runner Kevin Tree finished second on Saturday in the 10,000-metre Canadian Olympic trial race.

However, the result did not land Tree a spot on the country’s Olympic track team.

Tree finished in a time of 29:18:86 and would had to have crossed the line in less than 28 minutes to qualify for Rio.

Two-time Olympian Eric Gillis won the race and will compete at the Olympics.

"Great race today from Tree," said Lakehead running coach Kip Sigsworth in a release issued on Sunday.

"Training this summer hasn't been perfect with some illness but he stepped up on the day and got the job done. He didn't panic when he cramped up a bit in the middle of the race and managed to close really well. It is his first National senior medal which is very exciting."
Don’t count Tree out of the Olympics just yet.

He’ll have another opportunity to go, competing in the 5,000-metre race at the Olympic trials in July.

"I thought Saturday went really well," Tree said. "Over the course of twenty-five 400m laps there is bound to be some rough moments and last night was no exception. I think I weathered those tough moments well and kept racing right to the end and it worked out. It was great to have a lot of support out there last night, which was definitely a big help."