Athletics stars beat elements to post winning performances at Harry Jerome
A windy and relatively cold day made for tougher times at the Harry Jerome Track Classic in Burnaby, British Columbia, where Athletics Canada stars saw plenty of winning performances.
World silver medallist Melissa Bishop won the women’s 800 metres in a meet record time of one minute, 58.79 seconds, beating Brenda Martinez of the United States by over a second. Martinez herself is a world medallist in the event.
Andre De Grasse – a 100m bronze winner from worlds – did the sprint double in Burnaby, winning the 100m (10.32s) and 200m (20.46s) into a headwind that was hardly ideal for crisp times. Nonetheless, the Canadian is forming a winning habit, having also taken two Diamond League titles this season.
Three other Canadian world championship medallists from Beijing 2015 took part in the meet, which is part of the National Track League.
Reigning high jump world champion Derek Drouin won his event; silver medal-winning heptathlete from Beijing and recent Hypo-Meeting winner, Brianne Theise-Eaton, took part in the long jump (second) and 100m hurdles (third); Ben Thorne, who took world bronze in the 20km race walk was second to teammate Evan Dunfee in a 5km version of the event.
Full results of the Harry Jerome classic are available here.
Athletics Canada will hold its national trials to sort Olympic qualifications in Edmonton from July 7 to 10.
