MONTREAL (CP) -- Michelle Buckingham of Ottawa qualified for her third Olympic Games on Saturday, defeating Brigitte Lastrade of Montreal in the women's 57-kilogram final at the Canadian judo championships.

 Buckingham, 31, needed to win or she would have been forced into a playoff bout for the Olympic spot against Lastrade. The final lasted just 12 seconds as Buckingham scored decisive Ippon. Buckingham switched to the 57-kilo category this year after competing most of her career at 63 kilos.

 "I've been able to switch to a lower weight class without losing any strength," said Buckingham, who has had surgery on both knees since the last Olympics. "The road towards this berth was long and hard but I was ready to do everything it took. Now I feel I'm a medal contender in Sydney."

 The women's 57 kilos was the only category at the championships with an Olympic spot on the line.

 Nicolas Gill of Montreal, Keith Morgan of Calgary and Luce Baillargeon of Montreal qualified for the Sydney Games last year at the world championships.

 Sophie Roberge of Beauport, Que., and Kim Ribble of Hamilton were the only Canadians to meet the standards in their respective categories this year.

 In the men's 60-kilo class, Frazer Will, 17, of Saskatoon earned his first career Canadian crown by defeating Frederick Chiang of Burnaby, B.C., scoring the winning point with three seconds left in the bout.

 Other winners in the women's competition were: Isabelle Latullippe of St-Hubert, Que., at 44 kilos; Amber Gallogley of Whitby, Ont., at 48 kilos, despite a shoulder injury; Martine Geoffrion of Varennes, Que., at 52 kilos and Roberge at 63 kilos.

 The other male winners were: Faycal Bousbiat of Montreal at 66 kilogram and Jean-Francois Marceau of Chicoutimi, Que., at 73 kilograms.

 The competition ends today.