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18 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2012 STANDARD PROCEDURE: St. Thomas Aquinas grad Miana Griffiths (right), pictured winning the women's 100-metre dash at the recent Toronto International Track and Field Games, met Olympic qualifying standards several times this month. But the 22-year-old won't be attending this year's Olympics in London because she didn't meet those standards before the Canadian team was finalized. Former national teamer new technical director of soccer club PHOTO BY JEFF CATON / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Sprinter forced to adjust sights to 2016 her back. After the Canadian team was finalized, Griffiths posted a BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR time of 11.34 seconds at the Toronto International Track and When the world's top female sprinters take to the track next Field Games and crossed the line in 11.36 seconds at the week in London, Miana Griffiths will feel like there is one Athletics Ontario junior and senior championships in Ottawa. notable absentee. Griffiths is left lamenting the fact that Canada's list of athHerself. letes was finalized days before she would have qualified. The 22-year-old Oakville resident has met or "I don't know if they submitted their list exceeded the A and B Olympic qualifying stan- "I'm going to wonder, but too early," she said. "In my case, I think they dards in the 100-metre dash several times this it makes me hungrier, so I did." month. But two of her times didn't meet the think that's a good thing. Making things even tougher to swallow for qualifying standard when corrected for wind God has something in Griffiths is the fact that she believes she would assistance, and the others came after Canada have qualified at national trials earlier this store for me. I know He had submitted its final list of athletes for the year if she hadn't come down with a bout of does." Olympic Games. food poisoning the week before the event. Her It means Griffiths will have to wait until at fastest time at nationals was 11.42 seconds, Miana Griffiths, on not being least 2016 to fulfill her Olympic dream. four-hundredths of a second short of the B "It is very sad," said the St. Thomas Aquinas named to the Canadian standard. grad, now a psychology and law student at Olympic team this year But the 2008 provincial high school senior Ryerson University. "Due to the submission of girls' champion isn't about to feel sorry for the list, they can't change it anymore, so basically I'm just stuck herself. here right now." "I won't throw my hands up. I need to continue fighting," The A Olympic standard time in the women's 100m dash is she said. "I'm going to wonder, but it makes me hungrier, so I 11.29 seconds, and the B standard is 11.38. Griffiths beat both think that's a good thing. at the AO National Standards Meet in Windsor, clocking at "God has something in store for me. I know He does," she 11.20 seconds and 11.38 seconds, but those times didn't meet added. the qualifying standards when adjusted for the strong wind at "I know He does." By Jon Kuiperij Former Canadian national team member Dino Lopez will be the new technical director of the Oakville Soccer Club (OSC). Lopez, currently the OSC's head coach of the girls' 1994 age group, will officially take over the role Aug. 8, the OSC announced yesterday (Tuesday). The 43-year-old Lopez replaces Jason de Vos, who recently resigned from the OSC's technical director position to focus on his broadcasting career. "We are very pleased that we were able to hire Dino, who brings a history of success as a coach at OSC, as well as an impressive resume as a player," OSC chief administrative officer Paul Varian said. "We are excited to see the progress he makes in driving forDino Lopez ward our plans for long-term player development and leading our coaches." On top of playing for the national program, Lopez also played in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) and United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues (USISL, now the USL). He has coached at the OSC since 2005 and holds USSF National A coaching qualifications. Several players Lopez has coached have gone on to play for provincial and national teams, as well as earned NCAA scholarships. "I'm passionate about our club's success, passionate about soccer development in Canada and the only (technical director) job I would consider is the job here in Oakville," Lopez said. "I'm flattered that the club and the board have put their faith in me. I follow in the steps of two (technical directors, de Vos and Brett Mosen) whom I respect very much and hope that I can live up to the standard that they have set." Lopez will head a group of 24 professional age group head coaches, a coach development manager, and referee development manager. He becomes technical director during Year 2 of the club's five-year strategic plan, designed to uphold the concept of "Advancing Every Player." "My job is to make sure that we continue our momentum along that path and that we continue to make the minute changes and refinements within the technical strategic plan so that the club is flush on the rails towards success," Lopez said. "Since my playing days ended, I've spent the last decade building a sales career while coaching for seven years in Oakville. During that time, my success has been based on being able to plan and, more importantly, to execute my plan. We are at the execution phase at Oakville Soccer Club and I look forward to being part of the team that helps the club achieve our lofty ambitions."