News15 Jun 2009


Reed’s 800m win among the highlights in Burnaby

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Gary Reed of Canada celebrates winning silver in the men's 800m (© Getty Images)

In one of the most anticipated events of the Harry Jerome International Track and Field Classic on Sunday (14), marquee athlete Gary Reed seized the victory in the men's 800m with a time of 1:45.95. Reed, the 2007 World Championship silver medallist from Kamloops, B.C., went out aggressively and beat a fast-closing field led by Americans Ryan Brown (1:46.52) and Matt Scherer (1:46.53).

Following his fourth-place finish at the Beijing Olympics, 27-year-old Reed spent the winter training in Arizona in what he calls “reset mode.” As for his winning time at Harry Jerome, he said, "It felt quicker than that but I'll take it. It's not too bad. It was great competition. Things are coming along slowly but surely."

The meet, taking place just two weeks before the Canadian and U.S. national championships, served as a tune-up for many elite athletes on both sides of the border. The fields included 11 Olympians, two World Championship medalists and two fourth place finishers from Beijing.

Armstrong Puts 20.58

Reed shares both his hometown (Kamloops) and his finish in Beijing (fourth) with shot putter Dylan Armstrong. He won his event easily with a heave of 20.58m, one centimetre further than he threw here last year. The six-foot-four, 310-pound behemoth would have won even with his fourth best effort of 19.72m. His winning toss came on his second attempt to easily out-distance American Justin Rodhe's best heave of 19.44.

Armstrong took his victory in stride, saying, "It was good. I've been maintaining my fitness level and now I just want to get ready for Worlds.”

Armstrong and Rodhe are training partners who were very pleased for each other's performance. "Justin did a very big PB today," noted Armstrong. Rodhe added, "I would not be surprised to see Dylan medal at Worlds, he's just waiting to hit that big throw. We have not seen the best of Dylan Armstrong."

Lionel Larry beats hometown favourite in 400m


In the 400m, Lionel Larry of Compton, Cal., took the win over Chilliwack native Tyler Christopher. The 2007 USA outdoor bronze medalist described his 45.29 performance as a “very technical” run that sets him up well for the national championships in two weeks where he will try for a spot on the American team.

Christopher was upbeat after his second place finish. The Edmonton resident and Canadian record holder ran 45.85 in just his second meet of the season. Afterwards Christopher reflected, "It's an improvement, so I'm happy about that."

Williams ties meet record in the High Jump

With a leap of 2.31m, reigning U.S. High Jump champion Jesse Williams tied the 21-year-old meet record held by Brent Harken of the U.S. He was followed by two Americans, Jamie Nieto (2.28m) and Grant Lindsay (also 2.28m). Williams was disappointed to fail at his attempts at his personal best of 2.36, but felt that this meet set him up well for the upcoming U.S. Championships. After a disappointing Olympic performance in Beijing where he didn’t qualify for the final, Williams is now ready to soar. “This year is a redemption year. I really feel like I can win a medal, so it’s just a matter of getting it down. I know in the back of my head that things are coming together.”

Canadian Olympian Ruky Abdulai broke the meet record in the Long Jump with a leap of 6.60m. The old mark of 6.45m was set by Carol Lewis in 1988.

"I felt great,” she said, “I was reaching to do better at every jump." The event was a battle between Abdulai and Canadian record holder Tabia Charles, who first broke the meet record with a 6.49m measure. Abdulai came back on her fifth jump to take the lead in the competition. Continuing on a high note, she took the microphone and sang the Canadian anthem in the opening ceremony.

Kipyego, Elmore battle in women’s 1500

Nine-time NCAA champion Sally Kipyego pulled away from Kelowna B.C.’s Malindi Elmore over the final stretch to win the 1500m in 4:07.68. Both runners went out aggressively, passing 800 in 2:10 and aiming for the World A standard of 4:06.00. “It was a good decent race,” said Kipyego. “The pace was a bit too fast at the beginning and I slowed down as it progressed but overall it was good.”

Kipyego plans to return to her native Kenya to contest either the 1500 or the 5000 at the national trials on 25 July.

Elmore, who finished in 4:09.22, was similarly upbeat. “I felt good racing. I ran out of a bit of steam in the last 200 but I figure if I’m in the hunt, eventually I’ll win.”

2007 World Championships 10,000m bronze medallist Kara Goucher was third in a late-charging 4:09.77.

Marcie Good and John Moe for the IAAF
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