Burnaby, BC, Canada - Photo finishes and relay woes dominated the Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic Friday (08) night as Canada prevailed over China 67-58 to win the Pacific World Cup dual meet portion of the international competition.

The 24th annual Jerome meet, held in balmy, late-spring conditions at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium, marked the third year Canada and China have engaged in a limited dual meet for the Pacific World Cup as part of the larger Jerome meet that also includes other international participants. For the third consecutive year Canada proved best, this year over a Chinese team made up of athletes primarily from southeastern provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang.  

The Canadian side was led with victories by Genevieve Thibault of Val Belair, Que., in the women’s 100 metres ( 11.99), Anson Henry of Pickering, Ont., in the men’s 100 metres  (10.39)  and Saskatoon’s Kelsie Hendry in the women’s Pole Vault (4.20m).

China-SE point leaders included a win by Wang Qingbo in men’s Javelin Throw (73.96m) and Song Jian (7.57m) in the men’s Long Jump.

The International Association of Athletics Federations had designated the meet as a relay qualifying event for the upcoming Pan-American Games and World Championships in Osaka but all four Canadian squads missed the opportunity to make the standards. The Canadian women’s 4x400m Relay team of Esther Akinsulie, Carline Muir, Erica Broomfield and Lauren Siebel won the event in a meet record 3:36.67 but the effort was well off of Athletics Canada’s World Championship and Pan-Am “A” standard of 3:29.00.

The Canadian women’s 4x100m Relay team of Teneshia Peart, Genevieve Thibault, Erica Broomfield and Billie Whitegibson also won its race in 45.58, short of the “A” standard 43.50.

The women’s 4x400 team was also hampered by losing Halifax speedster Adrienne Power, who could not travel to the meet after developing a serious infection from a cat bite on her hand. 

“This might have been our last chance, we’ll try to find another race if we can to get standard but it’s tough,” remarked 4x400 lead runner Akinsulie. “We were all hoping for standard and there was a good chance we could get it. I think we need to have more opportunities for us to come out as a team and run together. Right now this is just our second time this year being together and our second chance to run standard.”

Both Canadian men’s relay squads suffered passing problems, with the 4x100 foursome of Shannon King, Neville Wright, Emanuel Parris and Justin McLennan disqualified after officials ruled an exchange took place outside the official zone. Meantime, the 4x400 crew of Brian Barnett, Nathan Vadeboncoeur, Adam Kunkel and Tyler Christopher appeared within striking distance of the standard when a sloppy final exchange slowed Kunkel and Christopher and dashed all chance.

“I missed it, it definitely cost us a good half a second,” lamented Christopher, Canadian men’s 400m record holder, after the relay team’s bungled pass translated into a 3:04.01 winning time.  “But it was a solid effort. We all ran solid splits.”

Despite the home country team’s relay problems the meet, held annually in honour of the late Canadian sprinter Harry Jerome, served up some exciting races and strong individual performances. Dylan Armstrong, from Kamloops, B.C., unleashed a personal best 20.72 metres to win the men’s Shot Put while Irish sprinter Joanne Cuddihy ran away with the women’s 200m in 23.80 seconds. American Mike Mitchell, who had a strong early season 20.33 to his credit, sped to victory in the men’s 200m with a 20.84 effort.

The women’s 800m proved the most exciting clash of the night with Rebecca Johnstone of Bowen Island, B.C., outfinishing Victoria rival Aimee Teteris to win in 2:03.60. Teteris was an eyelash behind in 2:03.61.

“This meet is so important, you need to get in good races and to win here is excellent,” said Johnstone. “You need not only to race but to race against great runners, that’s when the fast times come, when you’re trying to get to the finish line first. I just got there today.”

American Antwon Hicks also prevailed in the men’s 110m Hurdles, winning in 13.61 with compatriot Linnie Yarbrough just behind in 13.75.

“This is my first time here and I’m glad I came,” said the 24-year-old Hicks, the 2002 World junior champion who recently set a personal best of 13.42. “I was looking for a couple of quality meets to get ready for our U.S. championships. I didn’t feel all that fast in the warm-up and 13.61 is a bit slower than I wanted but I’ll take it.”

Canadian record holder Tabia Charles and China’s Qui Huijing capped the night’s field events by waging a spirited battle in the women’s Triple jump. Charles won with a 13.40m effort with Qui taking second in 13.31.

Wendy Long for the IAAF