Nothing Jessica Zelinka does on the track can surprise her coach Les Gramantik.
He's had her career path mapped out for years.
Little events such as national award ceremonies are the only things Gramantik doesn't plan.
Zelinka just finished a university season in which she won five golds and a silver at the CIS championships, setting a record in the process.
So the University of Calgary Dinos coach certainly wasn't surprised his star heptathlete was nominated for the prestigious BLG Awards yesterday, despite the fact it didn't show up on his list.
"I'm big on setting goals," said Gramantik. "Last night, was looking through old files and there was one from 2003. There was a list of what's possible for Jessica.
"It listed many things then a podium finish in 2008 at the Olympics. We have done everything since then. We missed one place at the Commonwealth Games but everything else is coming true.
"It's easier to predict with someone like her. She's an extremely special athlete."
Performance awards are nothing new for Zelinka. She has won every individual honour at the CIS level but this season she added a team achievement.
The Dinos took home the CIS banner this winter at the McGill meet, the first time the Dino women have won since 1991 and Zelinka believes that earned her the BLG nomination.
Usually she's too focused on her individual training and working towards Beijing, where she'll try to make Gramantik's prediction come true.
"What would you call these awards -- the cherries on top," said the 25-year-old.
"These are little bonuses. I focus on competing and personal bests. It's nice to be part of these awards and being mentioned with this group of athletes. I've heard it will be tough to win it this time around."
Zelinka is nominated for the BLG Award with University of Montreal swimmer Audrey Lacroix, Queen's soccer player Eilish McConville and Dalhousie soccer and track athlete Leanne Huck.
On the men's side, volleyball players Josh Howatson of Trinity Western and Jeff Weiler of Dalhousie are nominated with football players Daryl Stephenson of Windsor and Patrick Donovan of Concordia.
The awards ceremony is April 30 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.
Shortly afterwards, Zelinka will head off to Europe for meets in Austria and France before preparing for the world championships at Osaka, Japan, in August.
From there, Gramantik will start counting down until Beijing and the final goal on Zelinka's sheet.
She doesn't need a reminder after just missing the qualification for Athens in 2004.
Zelinka met the standard three years ago but one of her events was wind-assisted and she was left off the team.
Athens wasn't on Gramantik's list of goals and the coach doesn't mind if she uses that as motivation. But he prefers using Beijing as the target.
"He's been telling me that, not often, but just a reminder that our goal is to be on the podium in 2008," Zelinka said. "I starting to think things are coming together. He's had his mind on that since I came to Calgary."
Zelinka moved to Cowtown from London, Ont., to work with Gramantik but he said she had other reasons to relocate.
"I asked him if I should come to Calgary," Zelinka said. "He said he couldn't tell me what to do.
"I think he did that so I couldn't blame him if things didn't work out.
"It's working out now."
