At 'Sweet Sixteen' Jennifer Abel is off to Beijing

Abel took the second of two spots available for the 3 m springboard, finishing second to Blythe Hartley with a point-total of 679.45. Hartley, of Vancouver, caused no surprise with her first-place finish, dominating the competition with 751.95 points.

Abel earned 333.75 points in the preliminary rounds. She added 345.70 in the finals, establishing a new personal best. She beat out Albertan Mandy Moran.

"I'm fulfilled and relieved! Going to the Olympics is a life's dream for an athlete. I was nervous, because I really wanted a place at the Games. I focused on what my coach was telling me and I tried not to think of what was at stake. It was not a question of entering through the back door," she proudly explained. "I've had a super nice year and I was hoping it would not end there," she added.

Abel is another athlete who experienced a gamut of emotions in Victoria. "I cried a lot …with joy, especially after I hugged my coach (Cesar Henderson). I thanked him. I also cried when Meaghen (Benfeito) and Roseline (Filion) qualified," stated the junior gold-winner of the last Pan-American Games.

Photo:Abel

(Photo: Martin Alarie)