It did not go as planned for high-jumper Mike Mason, of Nanoose Bay, on Friday in Tokyo, but anybody with the staying power to be in his fourth Olympic Games has little to apologize for. The 34-year-old Islander was seventh in Group B at 2.25 metres and did not advance to the final.
“It was all really good until it wasn’t, to get right to the point,” said the Ballenas Secondary graduate, who was a finalist in placing seventh at the last world championships in 2019 at Doha.
“[My attempts] just flew by. I don’t even know what happened. I’m at a loss for words.”
Mason has a bronze medal from the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and silver medals from the 2015 Toronto and 2019 Lima Pan Am Games, but the biggest podium has eluded him.
After the immediate disappointment was dealt with in Tokyo, Mason was more reflective: “This my fourth [Olympics]. I love it. I love the competition. Being out there was a really good atmosphere and I’m proud of the work I’ve done. And a huge thanks to my family and friends. And my coaches who worked so hard with me.”
Mason has not ruled out anything, including a possible fifth Olympics at Paris in 2024: “[Still working on] being better as a high jumper and being more consistent,” he said.
And the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games are only a year away. “I’m not focusing on longevity records or lists or anything like that … [but] I’m not ruling anything out,” he said, heading into Tokyo.
It was a big day, however, for Mason’s Canadian teammate Django Lovett of Toronto, who achieved 2.28 metres and qualified first out of Group A for the final today.
“I had a plan and executed it and things went accordingly,” said Lovett.
“I’m excited to make the final, but still maintaining my composure throughout the competition. There’s still a job to do. So I’m very much focused. It’s definitely a strong field, but I think I’m just as strong as any of them. If I continue my momentum I’m sure I can put myself in contention.”
Also in track and field at the Olympics, Canadian record-holder Melissa Bishop, who trained in Victoria in preparation for the Tokyo Games, ran 2:02.11 in her preliminary women’s 800-metre race and did not advance.
“It’s not a nice position to be in. It’s my third Games and I know a lot can go down on that track, no matter the round. You have to run all these rounds as a final,” said Bishop, the former world championships silver medallist, who was fourth in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“That was all I could give. I really hate this position. I’d rather have a DQ. It’s much more satisfying.”
Mohammed Ahmed of Canada was a credible sixth in the men’s 10,000-metre final Friday.
Alycia Butterworth of Parksville and Gen Lalonde of Victoria go for it today in the Olympic women’s 3,000-metre steeplechase with the first qualifying race set for 5:40 p.m. PT and the second at 5:55 PT.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
